Keith Mason

Keith W. Mason, 95, of Waukon passed away peacefully Friday, April 15, 2016. Memorial services will be held Saturday, April 30 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Waukon with Pastor Kim Gates officiating. Burial with military graveside rites will be held at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon. Friends may call one hour before services at the church. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Keith was born October 7, 1920 in Waukon, the son of Guy Hampton and Louise (Gluck) Mason. Keith graduated from Waukon High School and continued on to Junior College. With the required two years of college for admission into the Army Air Corps’ Flying Cadet Program, Keith began his flying career. He served as both a flight instructor stateside and completed 48 bombing missions overseas with the 460th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force in Italy during WWII.

Upon Keith’s return to the States, he married Jean Ann Gleisner January 1, 1945. Along with raising five children, Keith worked as an auto mechanic. Later he completed his Master’s degree from Winona State University and accepted a position as an auto mechanics instructor at Area I vocational school in Calmar, where he worked until his retirement.

Keith was a master woodworker and spent much of his retirement in his shop creating furniture from area walnut trees. Keith also wrote his World War II memoirs, initially self-published under “Nothing to Fear". This memoir has recently been re-published and released by the University of Missouri Press under a new title: “My War in Italy: On the Ground and in Flight with the 15th Air Force” (see Page 3A in this week’s issue of The Standard).

Keith is survived by four children: Randall K. (Barbara) Mason of Spring Grove, MN, Shirley J. (Mark Abbott) Lewter of Lubbock, TX, William P. (Mary) Mason of Brooklyn, WI and Linda L. (Brent) Fickbohm of Sioux City; six grandchildren: Katherine, Robert, Jesse, Laura, Andrew and Samuel; and six great-grandchildren: Sean, Devyn, Bobby, Amelia, Tom and Ella. Keith was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Ann; a son, Norman K. Mason; and two brothers, Eugene and Guy, Jr.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.