Howard James Laas, 84, of Hallettsville, passed away Dec. 28, 2016. He was born on Oct. 8, 1932 to Hilmer O. & Hermina (Minnie) Lorfing Laas. He attended grade school at Pleasant Grove and then graduated from Hallettsville High School in 1951, and attended Texas A&I University in Kingsville.

Howard was drafted in the US Army during the Korean War. He went off to boot camp at Fort Bliss near El Paso, TX. After training, he was stationed in Okinawa, Japan as a radio operator. He took great pride in serving his country.

Howard returned from the war, he continued his college education, and obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Husbandry. He then worked as a farmer, rancher and truck driver for the rest of his career.

Howard married Barbara Anne Rainey on May 29, 1976. Together, they raised six children, and he has been a loving father ever since. He donated blood regularly until he was 80 years old and loved to dance. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW, and St. Peter Lutheran Church of Hallettsville.

Howard was every meaning of the word gentleman.   He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He was very giving, loyal, hardworking, honest, and a caregiver to his wife when she was sick.

Howard is survived by: son Brian Lass & wife Ursula of Denver, CO; 4 daughters, Brenda Mayer & husband Chris of SD, Lisa McKinney of Cheyenne, WY, Bethany Lannen & husband Curt of Hallettsville, and Angela Leadford & husband Tait of Hallettsville; 8 grandchildren, Adison & Avery Bujnoch, April McCormick, Michelle White, Brandon & Justin Bonewald, Leah Seay and Josh Spangenburg; and 7 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents Hilmer and Minnie Lorfing, wife Barbara Laas, sister Evelyn Hrncir, and daughter Lola Gardiner.

Funeral Service: 11 am, Saturday, December 31, 2016, at St. Peter Lutheran Church of Hallettsville. Visitation: 4 pm, Friday, at Kubena Funeral Home. Pallbearers: Howard Albert, Ray Albert, Justin Bonewald, Don Kennedy, Chris Hildebraudt, and John Lorfing. Honorary Pallbearers: Bruce Webb, Chad Hopkins, Brandon Carpenter, Arnie Hrncir, and Brandon Bonewald. Officiant: Rev. Sarah Shanks. Memorials: St. Peter Lutheran Church of Hallettsville, or Hospice of South Texas. Burial: Hallettsville City Cemetery.