John Nelson Haas

John Nelson Haas, 81, of Portage, MI, passed away Friday, November 25, 2016 with his family by his side. He was born in Portage on March 10, 1935 to Ruth H. (Hoch) Haas and Nelson J. G. Haas. They preceded him in death as did his sister, Elaine J. Haas. John was a Portage High School graduate, attended Kalamazoo College, and graduated from Parsons Business School. He served in the US Marine Corps from 1953 to his honorable discharge in 1956. He is survived by his wife Kay (Stafford) Haas; daughters Jon Ellen (James) Snyder of Livingston, MT, and Jodee (George) Ewbank; grandsons Nelson L. and Robert H. Ewbank; sisters Yvonne (William) Kreamalmeyer and Joan Doxey; brother-in-law Jim Stafford (Jon Doonan); and treasured nieces and nephews. John and Kay Haas married on July 3, 1957. The happy couple raised their daughters in Portage. John worked as a purchaser at Newhouse Printers Supply (was a member of Kalamazoo Valley Craftsmen), then as a machine operator at Wellsaw before retirement. John dedicated his life to service of God, family, and community. As a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church (WPC) he served as an elder and as building and grounds chair. He joined many WPC work camps to provide handyman services to people whose lives were devastated by natural disaster or poverty. He was honored to be a friendly visitor to Cuba in 2014 and 2015 with WPC to build relationships and offer service. He kept in contact with dear friends made during these visits. John was a civil servant. He was a poll worker, was on the Bloomingdale Township Board of Review, volunteered with the Black River watershed program and belonged to the Great Bear Lake Association. He was a steward of the environment, dedicated to recycling, reusing, and using less. John loved nature, tended his yard and garden, and made wildlife welcome. He was an expert morel hunter, stalker of wild asparagus, and enjoyed gathering and shelling black walnuts. He was a beekeeper, a plant lover, a friend to squirrels, rabbits and birds. He was a hero to many turtles crossing the road. John helped at Loaves and Fishes, Meals on Wheels, Ministry with Community, Habitat for Humanity, Open Doors, and Bronson Commons; sharing the load with gentle humor and a listening ear. John loved new places and chances to get to know people. He took his family on road trips all over the US. He and Kay went on cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, and Mexico; and vacations to Costa Rica, Europe, Australia, and China. He explored local cuisine with gusto and enjoyed a joke in any language. John leaves family, friends and neighbors a legacy of humor, compassion, kindness, service and humility. May we be so fortunate as to follow in his footsteps. Visitation is 10 - 11 am Saturday, December 3 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Portage, MI. Memorial service follows at 11 am with a luncheon after the service. Memorial donations may be made to Loaves and Fishes, Ministry with Community, Hospice of Southwest Michigan or Westminster Presbyterian Church.