William A. Maves, Jr.

   William A. “Bill” Maves Jr., age 80, a long time Park Rapids, MN area resident, died unexpectedly at his home on Monday, May 16, 2016 at his residence west of Park Rapids.    Bill was born on May 15, 1936 at Frazee, MN to William and Amalia (Fischer) Maves.  He moved with his family to the Park Rapids area in 1943 where he attended school and graduated from the Park Rapids High School with the Class of 1954.  As a young man, Bill gained employment working as a gas delivery truck driver for the Coop-Sampo in Park Rapids.  On February 14, 1958, Bill was united in marriage to Jane Amelia Morville and they were blessed with a son, Eugene Charles.  The young couple purchased a farm in Green Valley Township south of Park Rapids where Bill kept his evenings and weekends busy farming.   In 1960, Bill and Jane purchased a farm west of Park Rapids where he has resided right up to the current time.  Bill continued in his career driving delivery truck for Coop-Sampo for 25 years until his retirement in the early 1970’s. Bill enjoyed farm life.  For many years they farrowed and fed hogs and raised beef cattle.  In the late 1960’s, Bill worked as a pitman for the Gulbrandson-Rooney snowmobile racing team and provided support to keep their racing fleet in top performance as they raced in snowmobile speedways scattered from New York to Winnipeg and beyond.  In the early 1970’s Bill and Jane welcomed Howard Isaacson into their home. They made him a member of their family and loved him as a son.  Above all, Bill enjoyed mentoring his son and grandsons and worked with them to build a productive and efficient farming operation.    Bill will be remembered by his son, Eugene and daughter-in-law, Carolyn Maves of Park Rapids; his dearly loved grandsons: Mark Maves, Scott (Cassandra)Maves, and Lucas Maves all of Park Rapids; 4 precious great grandchildren: Kaitlyn, Eli, Ryan and Tucker; his brother, Dale Maves of Park Rapids and his sister, Mildred Prescott of Kent, WA; very special friends: Howard and Bonnie Isaacson of Park Rapids and LeRoy and Sandy Paulson of Osage; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.    Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, in Jane in 2001; two baby sisters and another sister, Lois Yliniemi who died this past February.