Obituary index

Arnold Haak

[May 09, 2011]  LINCOLN -- Arnold William Haak, 89, of Lincoln, died Tuesday, May 3, 2011, at Blessing Hospital in Quincy. He had been a resident at the Illinois Veterans' Home in Quincy.

Visitation will be 2-4 p.m. Sunday, May 15, at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln. An AMVETS memorial service will be at 4 p.m.

His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 16, at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader, with the Rev. Andrew Nyren officiating.

Burial will be in Zion Cemetery, where military rites will be conducted.

Honored repeatedly for his devoted veterans' advocacy, he had served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945.

After W.W. II, "Arnie" worked 23 years for Barrick Transfer and Beverage Co. in Lincoln, becoming foreman of drivers. He then spent 15 years with Consolidated Freightways, retiring in 1983. In his "retirement," he also enjoyed 16 years with Pete's Hardware in Lincoln.

He was born on Sept. 6, 1921, to Arnold Carl Haak and Anna Cecelia Schaub Haak. He married Ruth Marie Bratcher on Jan. 15, 1944. They had been married nearly 67 years when she preceded him in death.

He is survived by two sons, William (and Rhonda) Haak of Lincoln and Michael (and Nancy) Haak of McLean; four grandchildren; and four sisters, Ruby Haak Voyles of Decatur, Betty Haak Evans of St. Joseph, Mo., Janice Haak Waters, Gower, Mo., and Rosalee Haak Swingle of Lincoln

He was also preceded in death by seven siblings.

He was awarded the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart during service in the European Theater and was discharged as a first sergeant. Transferring to the Illinois National Guard, he was called to service again in 1950 during the Korean War.

He was a life member of AMVETS, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, 40 & 8, and Order of the Purple Heart. In those organizations, he served in various local, regional and statewide leadership positions. Most notably, he was commander of AMVETS Department of Illinois in 1964-65.

He was honored twice as Lincoln Courier Man of the Month.

He was a driving force in the 1980s refurbishing of the community band shell at Lincoln's Latham Park and in establishing All Veterans Park at College Avenue and Union Street in Lincoln.

Memorials may be made to Illinois AMVETS Service Foundation.

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