James E. Haskell

1942 - 2022

BORN

1942

DIED

2022

About

Kansas State University

James Haskell Obituary

HASKELL

JAMES E. HASKELL

James E. Haskell, 80 of Annandale, Virginia passed away on July 21, 2022. He was born in Lodgepole, Nebraska in February1942, to James and Gladys Haskell who farmed on a small dryland wheat farm. Jim graduated from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln with a Master's degree in Agricultural Economics, and later he would earn his PHD in the same subject from Kansas State University. After graduation Jim would spend his entire career working for the USDA, helping farmers and Cooperatives across America and the world.

He was married to Patricia L. Miller of Oshkosh, Nebraska in October 1964. Jim and Pat would share their lives and many hobbies for 56 years. Together they enjoyed, camping, hiking, traveling, restoring trunks, collecting flow blue China, reading books (especially James Mitchner), and keeping Honey Bees. The bee keeping would lead them to eventually the teaching of bee keeping to many folks around the Washington DC Metro Area and beyond. Jim was an avid sports fan of Husker Football, Basketball and Baseball, but most of all you could find him every Sunday keeping track of the leader board for every PGA tournament.

Jim is survived by his daughters Heidi Loechler of Kansas City and Heather Ramsey of Omaha, six grandchildren, three great grandchildren, his sister Lucile Stickley of Sidney Nebraska, 13 nephews and nieces, all who will remember him for his loyalty to family, his kindness, his love of farming and farmers, and his witty sense of humor. He lived his life and set the example that honesty, hard work and tenacity can pay off for anyone, even small-town Nebraska wheat farmers. We will miss you dearly, Daddy.

Services private. In lieu of flowers consider giving to the James Haskell Agricultural Scholarship through the University of Nebraska Foundation: 1010 Lincoln Mall, Lincoln, NE 68508.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Washington Post on Jul. 30, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for James Haskell

12 Entries

STEPHEN MCDANIEL

August 21, 2022

I am so sorry to hear of Jim and Pat's passing. I had lost touch with them during the pandemic, as I stopped attending bee meetings, where I usually saw them. Beekeeping has many benefits, one of which is meeting great people like the Haskells. I will miss them both.

Landi Simone

August 21, 2022

On behalf of the EAS Master Beekeepers, please accept heartfelt condolences. So many of us have great memories of both your mom and your dad. Jim was so active a volunteer during conferences that most of us thought he was a Master Beekeeper, though he never took the exam. He and your mother were wonderful people and will be missed by many, many people in the beekeeping community.

Frank Linton

August 20, 2022

Jim and Pat taught the beekeeping class I took in 2005, and they helped me prepare for the EAS Master Beekeeper exam at their kitchen table. I'm just one of the many hundreds they influenced.

Edward Parelhoff

August 20, 2022

So sorry to have lost both Jim and Pat. They were my mentors while I learned beekeeping and remained my friends for many years afterwards. They were kind and always willing to help. I spent several weekends with them in Lurray assisting with the work of beekeeping and learning from these lovely people. I will miss them both.

Rachel Perry & Sean McKenzie

August 9, 2022

Greetings,
We are sad to receive this news. We love Jim and have always found him an inspiration. Both Pat and Jim are well loved in our home. They have been in our prayers for years. We often called on them to check in and always inquired as to their health and needs. They were polite but fiercely independent, never wanting to burden others and always seeking to be seen as friends and mentors.
During Covid we stopped just dropping by as they always insisted that we come in and have coffee. We had a harder and harder time reaching them by phone until the last several calls were never returned. We planned to visit soon and are very sad to hear of Jim's passing.
Please let us know if there is anything we can do to give you comfort or support at this time or anytime in the future.

With our deepest sympathy, ardent prayers, and best regards,
Rachel Perry and Sean McKenzie

202.813.9691 text is best
[email protected]

Andy Jermolowicz

August 2, 2022

My condolences to the Haskell family. I was one of the many people that Jim hired to work at Ag Cooperative Service. Jim has a humble and down-to-earth man but also very astute in the ways of DC. He was a great boss and mentor to many of us. I will remember his passion for all things Ford Mustang.

Gail Thuner

August 2, 2022

I worked with Jim for many years, and I always remember his humor. In fact, once he gave me a book called Sick Puppy by Carl Hiasson. I loved it and Hiasson became one of my favorite authors. He was also a great sounding board and I usually felt better after talking to him. RIP, Jim.

Margaret Bau, Stevens Point, WI

August 1, 2022

Jim was such a genuinely kind person. He worked behind the scenes at USDA to do the right thing, be it for rural cooperatives, for fellow employees, or for the nascent co-op development centers. Jim was certainly Nebraska proud! Every time I spoke with him, he made sure to tell me about his Midwest roots. May his gentle soul rest in peace.

Dan Campbell

July 31, 2022

Jim was indeed a great friend to the nation's farmers and ag co-ops, as well as to all of us who worked with him at USDA. He was certainly a huge help to me over the many years I worked with him -- especially in the years after USDA began to drain resources from the co-op program. Thanks for everything Jim, and know that you made a difference through your dedication, hard work and mentorship! -- Dan Campbell, Annandale, VA

Jim Wadsworth

July 30, 2022

I shared an office wall with Jim at USDA and his deep voice would resonate through the wall. Jim was always available for sage cooperative and work advice. It was a pleasure working with him for many years. He was an incredible asset to farmer-owned cooperatives. My condolences to the Haskell family and close friends.

Bruce Reynolds

July 30, 2022

Worked with Jim for over 20 years at the Agricultural Cooperative Service. He was a remarkable leader and encouraged my research work. He was always fun to chat with too.

Doug and Norma Epley

July 29, 2022

Jim, and Pat, were avid bee educators. They were outstanding teachers and caring friends who were there to help out with any need - personal or bee related. Their common theme was to develop true "Bee Keepers" - not just "keeper of bees." This meant you your focus was on bees - their health, habituate, and well being. It was not just honey.
Somewhere in heaven we know the bees have built a monument of them for their caring and ethical efforts to improve the future of the craft for the betterment of the bees, and for opening our eyes to the beauty, mystery and intelligence of bees. The world is a better place for everyone because of them.

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