(Holland, MI - WHTC News) - Long-time Hope College benefactor Leonard Maas died on Friday at Holland's Freedom Village. He was 88.

Mr. Maas, along with his wife Marge, financially supported the Holland school, as well as a number of other area efforts. His most notable contributions to Hope were the Maas Conference Center, built in 1986, along with two endowed positions in the school's theological studies department.

Mr. Maas was on Hope's Board of Trustees from 1979 through 1993, and served as an honorary member of that panel after that until his death. Although he never attended classes at the school, Hope honored both he and his wife with honorary degrees in 2001 as a token of appreciation for their support.

Visitation for Mr. Maas is on Sunday from 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM at the Matthysse-Kuiper-DeGraaf Funeral Home in Grandville. A private funeral and burial is planned, but a "celebration" service is scheduled for 2 PM on Tuesday at Olivet Reformed Church, also in Grandville.

-Gary Stevens, WHTC/WYVN News