Michael Thomas Mauss

Michael Thomas Mauss, 41, loving husband and devoted father, was born into eternal life on August 20, 2020 in Fox Island, WA after a heroic battle with brain cancer. He was surrounded by his wife and children at his passing, with them loving him into eternal life and him drawing his family closer to the Lord through his sufferings.

Michael was born in Tacoma, WA to Marianne Kruse, his birth mother. He was adopted by Thomas and Karol Mauss as an infant and was raised in Gig Harbor, WA with his older sister, Shelley. He attended St. Charles Borromeo and then went on to Bellarmine Preparatory School. From a young age all the way through college, Michael’s charisma led his family on a beautiful journey of faith, friendship, and sports culminating in a National Championship Football Win as a Middle Linebacker for Pacific Lutheran University in 1999. He graduated from PLU with a degree in Special Education and Physical Education and stayed to coach football for two years. He then spent two years discerning priesthood for the Roman Catholic Church at Mt. Angel Seminary.

After leaving seminary, Michael ventured to Bellingham, WA to become the Catholic Campus Minister for the Newman Center at WWU. This is where he met his bride, Kristine. Michael and Kristine were married at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bellingham, WA on August 4, 2006. Michael then left ministry and began working as a financial advisor and built a successful brokerage business based on service and integrity - spending most of his years at Merrill Lynch and concluding his time as a broker at Ameriprise Financial.

Michael and Kristine spent 14 years building a beautiful life together raising 4 children. From house projects to giving horsey rides to coaching flag football teams to helping with homeschooling and faith formation to honoring his wife, Michael was an involved dad and devoted husband. Other than a fishing trip each summer to Alaska, Michael rarely took time for himself - devoting each hour of his day to God, his family, or his clients. He was and will be known as a servant warrior and has left a legacy that his wife and children are honored to uphold and continue.

Michael is survived by his wife, Kristine; his children Avila (12), Maximilian (10), Levi (8), and Lourdes (6); his mother, Karol Mauss; his birth mother, Marianne Kruse; his sister, Shelley Sprouffske (Jonathan); and a niece and four nephews. He is preceded in death by his father, Thomas Mauss; and his son, Gabriel Mauss.

Rosary and Viewing will be held on Thursday August 27 from 4-6pm and then 6-8pm and Requiem Mass will be held Friday August 28 at 10am, both at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Tacoma, WA. Burial at Calvary Cemetery to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Franciscan Hospice or Cassia & Myrrh, a Traditional Catholic music project, to be found at www.cassiaandmyrrh.com/catholic-chapters. Franciscan Hospice was a gift to Michael and his family his last days and Michael’s love for traditional Catholic music has spanned decades. Michael passed away during one of Kay’s songs and she will be commissioning a special piece just for him.