Remembering Dad - Jon's Poem

Remembering Dad

Early glimmers of a huge hand

More powerful than any words

Home at night from hard work

To start anew on varied tasks

Digging, hauling, hammering

The new house taking shape

Early morning at the table

We gather giggling to sneak up

On hands and knees around the corner

Tiger charge, we thunder in

Disturbing your quiet coffee

Poems, planning started at 5am

The sun not quite up yet

Water slow boil instant coffee

Cigarette smoke coiling up

Errant cough breaks silence

Weekend mountain at K-TWO

The radio station power humming

Hot summer days among the pines

Gained a little money and plenty

Of solitude … from the family

Pig sty you declared the house

A filthy place with dirt abound

Down on knees impatiently

You’d show us just how to clean

Sweep carefully, get the corners

Colorful paint carefully applied

Sanded over to a lacquer finish

Hands speckled with white dust

Still hold the cigarettes

In oleum quiet basement room

Loud music blasts from the stereo

Every classical piece I know

Big hands direct the orchestra

Tijuana brass such a contrast

Ham radio, the tower so tall

Wind threatens the safety

High up climbing for repairs

I holding a guy rope hoping

Discussions of E & M

Equations remembered proudly

Crystals and instantaneous vibration

Sunspots and powers unknown

Witch of Agnesi on graph paper

Books of all types to be read

Morse code drills the air dit-dah

W7HYW calling out CQ

The downstairs room held magic

Go tell your dad dinner is ready

Trampolines, desks and Zestos

Knocking down walls, bright paint

T-shirt pulled down for modesty

It’s late, we’re sleeping he growls

Curled up on the couch big hug

Snuggled inside the large arms

Belts and it hurts me more

I’ll eat the burnt toast we joke

Life’s lessons were given few words

No hitting was hard to believe

Sitting on the planter at sunset

Moments enjoyed through and through

Memories and stories too soon

Will be that which remains

Threats of this the last year

Will surely come true one day

A big bear man now bending

All the challenges and struggles

More meaning and power hold

Responsibility to give, for us

Know. Children and Seal love you.

- jch

© April 2003 Jon C. Haass Simple Pleasures Page 35

Dad's Life in Photos

Click on the photo below to access the entire album.

Herbs Photos

Dad's Obituary

Herbert James Haass

March 24, 1925-March 10, 2010

Herb Haass died peacefully at home on March 10, 2010, following a recent battle with emphysema.

Born and raised in Casper, Herb grew up in the shadow of the depression and often recounted stories of a dime for a loaf of bread and long spells without beef. Just shy of legal age to serve, Herb followed his brothers, Tom (USMC) and John (USAF), into the service during World War II where he earned the rank of Radio Technician, First Class, USN and served on the USS Santa Fe in the Pacific. His ship was one of the few in its class, a light battle cruiser, to avoid major damage or casualties in its major engagements with the enemy.

After returning from WW II, Herb pursued his AS in Engineering from Casper College, a BA in Education from the University of Colorado, and MA in Education from UCLA. He met and married Marjorie Ann Clark, daughter of Alex and Hazel Clark, on March 25, 1951 at the First Christian Church in Casper. Marj credits his charm, intelligence and wit as the key attributes that first won over her mother and then her father during their brief courtship.

Known in Casper’s education community, he started his career at Park School in 1957, teaching 6^th grade for a few short years before becoming Principal of Southridge Elementary School from 1959-1978. During his tenure, his innovations in Open Classrooms and Team Teaching were widely adopted throughout the Natrona County School System. As the first personal computers and kit computers emerged, Herb's interest in them led to his final position in the Natrona County School District as Director of Audio/Visual Services before he retired in 1987.

Herb's hobbies included ham radio, CBs, music of all kinds, computers, skiing and reading, but first among them was the ham radio, his window to the entire world starting at the age of 13. Weekends were often spent competing to communicate with the most countries in a given time period using Morse code or voice. His passion for ham radio is still marked by the antenna tower and his "command center" in the radio room at 1123.

Herb was the son of Jenny and Otto Haass and brother of John and Tom Haass, all of Casper, who preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie, oldest daughter Alexis Reed of Chesterton, IN, sons Jon Haass of Auburn, CA, Jamie Haass of Englewood, CO, Jeff Haass of San Francisco, CA, Clark Haass of Portland, OR, and Herb’s youngest daughter and twin to Clark, Mari Haass of Acton, MA. In addition, Herb enjoyed his ever-expanding family with 13 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

A memorial service celebrating his life will be held March 20 at 3pm at The First Christian Church on CY Ave. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Natrona County Education Foundation, 970 N. Glenn Road, Casper, WY 82601 in his name. Ever the educator, Herb asked that his body be donated to the University of Colorado Medical School.

W7HYW - over and out

 

Dad...We'll Miss You...73...

Today is a sad day for the Haass Family...Dad passed away this morning with Mari and Mom by his side.

Dad spent years preparing us for this day, but you never really expect it to come. Not to the work horse that helped Mom raise six kids. Not to the genius that taught me about computers. Not to master mind behind chicken gate. Not to the human machine that dug, climbed, painted, built and showed me the meaning of hard work. Yet, it has.

This photo of Dad in 1945, just back from the war with the 3 stars for Grandma Haass' boys in the window, really struck me as a vision of his youth and service to his country.

We love you and miss you, Dad...and in ham radio parlance...73...

Clark