Donald Haas, 82

Elmore — Memorial services for Donald Haas were April 15, 2008 at United Methodist Church in Elmore with Pastor Lois Abel officiating.

Donald Eugene Haas was born to Earl and Opal Haas on Feb. 8, 1926, at the family farm home south of Elmore. He died April 10, 2008, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center after a lengthy illness.

He attended a country school for eight years and then finished his formal education at the high school in Ledyard, Iowa. He joined the army in 1945 and was deployed to the Philippine Islands and Japan. In 1945, he joined the American Legion in Elmore and remained a member until the time of his passing. In 1948, he married Magdelene Schaumburg. They farmed south of Elmore and also for a time near Osceola, Iowa.

Don and Madge together carried on the Haas tradition of raising sheep for many years. Madge died in 1987 and Don lived by himself after that.

He was a life-long member of the Elmore United Methodist Church, having been baptized, confirmed, and married there. He also served as a trustee and functionary for many years.

Don farmed all his life beginning with his father at an early age in what could be considered doing a man’s work. He loved his vocation. He spent most of his time either thinking and talking about or doing the work of farming. The land nurtured him as did his father and grandfather. And in turn he nurtured the land according to God’s instruction in Genesis to till and keep the garden which was created for mankind. The welfare of the soil superseded any other consideration for personal gain.

He leaves behind a sister, Lucille (Loren) Larson and their son Lee (Holly) Larson from Nashville, Tenn., in addition to nieces and nephews, other relatives, friends, and neighbors. Moreover, one of the older living horses in existence, Star, a source of pride and companionship for Don, still commands the place he has lived for fifty-four years and will probably continue to look and wait for Don for his morning and evening morsels.

For a man who worked from sun-up til sun-down for most of his life, he has found rest from his labors. “Well done, good and faithful servant. Come, and I will give you rest.”

Online tributes or personal e-mails may be left at www.winterfuneralhome.com