John Haas

John Kenneth Haas was born September 1, 1928, on the family farm located SW of Jacksonville, Iowa to Adolph and Johanna (Nielsen) Haas as the 6th of 7 children (Ruby, Edna, James, Russell, Amy, John and Donald) who have all passed. John was baptized and confirmed in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Jacksonville and attended Jackson #9 country school through the 8th grade. John farmed with his father and was hired by local farmers before being drafted into the Army in February 1951 and stationed at Camp Rucker Alabama. He was honorably discharged in February 1953. Shortly after, John met Hertha Elaine Strandskov and they were married February 27, 1955, at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Kimballton, Iowa by Hertha’s uncle, Reverend Holger Strandskov.

John and Hertha’s married life started on a farm SW of Jacksonville. Son Jerry and daughter Debra were born before the family moved to a farm south of Irwin in 1960. In 1964 the family welcomed daughter Donna and moved to Harlan at the corner of 7th and Elm Street while John took employment as the Texaco tank man. The farming bug never left John and in 1968 a farm across the road from Bowman’s Grove Cemetery east of Harlan, Iowa was purchased. This 160-acre grain farm soon included a herd of dairy cows, swine and poultry. A tragic house fire took the original old farmhouse in 1970 and a new house was built and finished over the next four years. For decades their home has served as the gathering place for welcoming family, including 8 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and many friends. John’s faith moved him to serve on church boards in both Kimballton and Harlan. John enjoyed many years of family fishing vacations to Rush Lake Minnesota, where special memories were made while using his three-horse outboard boat motor. John retired from farming in 1990 and enjoyed 28 years wintering in Apache Junction, Arizona, and trips to Europe, New Zealand, the Panama Canal and our 50 states (except Alaska). John’s final years were highlighted by days of playing pinochle with friends at the Elk Horn Library, frequent stops at the Dairy Queen and driving around Prairie Rose Lake.

John passed on February 17, 2025, with his loving family at his side having attained the age of 96 years 5 months and 16 days. He is survived by his wife Hertha; son Jerry (Teresa) Haas of Surprise, AZ; daughters Debra Billings of Omaha, NE and Donna (Greg) Nelson of Harlan, IA; Grandchildren, Laura (Daniel) Louser of Bixby, OK, Linda Haas of Plymouth, MN and Jason (Chelsey) Haas of Bennington NE. Melissa (Clyde) Edgington of Hamburg, IA and John (Katy) Billings of Auburn, NE. Petrea (Jake) Carlson of Amity, MO, Preston (Shelby) Nelson of Harlan, IA and Andrea (Cole) Lowary of Atlantic, IA; Great Grandchildren, Aiden Louser, Penelope Jameson and Virginia Haas, Levi Edgington, Carolyn Melody and Kristen Billings, Chloe and Kaylee Carlson, Brody and Ellison Nelson and Oliver Lowary; Sisters-in-law, June Haas of Kimballton, Irma Pedersen and Karma Petersen of Harlan; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation with family greeting friends will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at the Heartland Funeral Home in Harlan. His funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 21, 2025, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan. Interment will follow at 2:00 p.m. in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Kimballton. Memorials may be directed to Immanuel Lutheran Church or the Elk Horn Library. 

His funeral service will be live streamed to the Immanuel Lutheran Church - Harlan, Iowa Facebook page.