Willem P. HAAN

HAMPTON - Willem P. Haan died Nov. 10, 2010, at age 92.
Born in Harlingen, the Netherlands on Feb. 5, 1918, he served in World War II as a Royal Dutch Marine. Based in Quantico, he met his wife of 55 years, Emma Douglass Turner, a WAVE, while both were sightseeing at the Jefferson Memorial. In 1948 the family settled in Newport News where he worked in the display department of Nachman's Department Store. He later worked for the U.S. Postal Service, from which he retired.
Throughout his life he enjoyed model shipbuilding and woodworking, always willing to share his skills with others, and taught many people including his grandchildren and his caregiver how to carve. He loved to build for the people he knew.
He and his wife were members of the Hampton Roads Bird Club, where they worked with Dorothy Mitchell at Newport News Park to help save the Eastern Bluebird. He also built dozens of birdhouses and feeders.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Emma; and his son, Willem P. Haan Jr.
He is survived by his daughter, Katherine Haan Spaulding her husband, Tom, their children, Katherine Turner Spaulding and her husband, Doug Dike and Leslie Burke Spaulding and her husband, Felix Milner. Also surviving are nieces and nephews in both the U.S. and Holland.
He will be greatly missed by family and friends including his nurse, pal, and friend, Darlene McKie.
A private graveside service will be held today in Peninsula Memorial Park.
Memorial donations may be made to The Hampton Roads Bird Club, or WHRO radio.
Arrangements by W. J. Smith and Son. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.