William Haag

William C. Haag, age 86, of Waseca, passed away August 23, 2013, at his home at Laurel's Edge in Mankato surrounded by his family who loved him dearly. Services are 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 29, 2013 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca. Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Wednesday August 28th at the McRaith Funeral Home of Waseca and one hour prior to service at the church.

Bill was born in Waseca on November 26, 1926 to Charles and Frances (Harguth) Haag. He attended Sacred Heart School in Waseca, graduating in 1944. Bill served in the Army during the Korean Conflict, returning to Waseca to marry his sweetheart, Agnes Britton on September 13, 1952 and to resume his job at the US Post Office as a letter carrier, a job he held for 40 years until his retirement in 1987.

He met Ag at a dance but actually disliked dancing. Ag later claimed false advertising. Despite that, they went on to raise 5 children and to have a wonderful life filled with cross country vacations, starting with a pup tent and upgrading to a home made pop-up camper that they shared with 2 other families. Ag and Bill were together for the entire journey, even toward the end of their lives when he cherished and cared for her as her Alzheimers progressed.

Bill and Ag were lucky to be able to spend time in Arizona in the winter along with their dear friends Frank and Marion Byron and relatives Reeve and Gordon Cumming.

Bill was an all around kind of guy with many interests. One of the favorites was catching lunkers. Bill began fishing at a young age, riding his bike to most of the lakes in a 15 mile radius of Waseca in any kind of weather to "wet a line". His fishing took him to the northern reaches of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and countless ice fishing trips to northern Minnesota.

Dad was always happiest playing cards. It provided many hours of fun and excitement at home, the VFW, the Senior Center and various other locations around Minnesota, Iowa and Nevada.

Dad also loved sports. In his younger days he played baseball on the Waseca and Janesville town teams. As a kid his dream was to be a professional baseball player. When that didn't happen he followed his grandchildren's sporting careers with special interest. Only a week ago he was watching baseball on TV, reciting batting averages and other statistics in conversations with his family. He also loved and was skilled at bowling, golf, pool and ping pong.

Bill was gentle-man in the very best sense of the word. He was quick with a smile or a joke, and loved to do card tricks for the grand kids. He had many close friendships which he treasured, but his greatest love was for his family and we were all lucky enough to know it.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his in laws Margaret Lelia (Root) and Lister Harold Britton, his beloved wife Agnes in Jan of 2013, a sister, Joan Higgins, sisters in law Katherine Barthelmehs and her husband Oscar, Reeve Cumming and her husband Gordon, Helen Denn, Beulah Johnson and her husband Gordon, Nancy Auspos, brothers in law Robert Britton and his wife Iola, Joseph Britton and Philip Hegseth, as well as nephews Rick Britton, John, Joseph and Frances Vaughan, Blaine Britton, Peter Denn, James Auspos and nieces Marnette Myers and Michelle Juberian.

He is survived by his children, Mary Beth (Roger) Waage, Michael (Mary)Haag, Nancy Haag (Tim Pulis), Christopher Haag, Jennifer(Charles) Miller, and AFS daughter Monica (Steve) Kohnert; grandchildren Monica (Steve) Kubow, Anna (Kirk) Sabiston, Tom Haag (Courtney Carlson), Kristin Haag (fiancé Brett Horvath), Matthew Haag, Elizabeth, Emily and Annie Waage, Alison Haag, Natalie(Josiah)Gross and Nicholas Kohnert; and great grandchildren Lauren, Lindsey and Carter Kubow and Scarlett Sabiston. He is also survived by his siblings Bernard (Kit) Haag, Sister Barbara Haag, Sister Helen Haag, sisters in law Jean Hegseth and Marjorie Britton and brother in law John (Rosie) Britton as well as many nieces and nephews, also loved but too numerous to mention.

We would like to thank his friends and the staff at Laurels Edge for their care and kindness.