KEVIN JOEL HAAS

After packing a full lifetime of living into 52 short years, Kevin Joel Haas passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his family on July 28, 2019. He was born February 4, 1967 in Iowa City, IA to Earl and Beverly (Scheffert) Haas. He grew up in Waukon, IA and graduated from Waukon Senior High School in 1985. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon. He never missed a day of Sunday School and even received an award for that achievement. Having spent so much time in church during his childhood, he was able to use his weekends for many other endeavors as an adult. Kevin was always on the go, as his teachers would surely agree. Growing up, he enjoyed trapshooting, motorcycle racing, coon hunting, motorcycle trips with his dad, time on the river and many adventures with his friends. Two different times he was a part of the 40 horse hitch team that traveled to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, LA. After high school, Kevin worked for 2 years before attending Northeast Iowa Community College. After one year, he transferred to Drake University in Des Moines, IA. There he discovered a passion for rowing and was a member of Drake University’s rowing crew and even had hopes of making the U.S. Olympic team. After graduation, he became the assistant rowing coach for the team. To the delight of his former teachers, Kevin was an excellent student and made the University’s Dean’s List. He graduated in 1992 with a degree in Business and a minor in Political Science. While a student at Drake, Kevin had the honor of driving a van in President George H.W. Bush’s caravan during a presidential visit. Kevin always loved to travel and he and a friend hopped on their motorcycles the day after college graduation and rode to California for a well-earned vacation. In his travels, he was able to visit several different countries in his adult years. Kevin worked at several jobs after college including as a real-estate agent in Des Moines. He eventually moved to Caledonia, MN where he currently owned and operated Dave’s Auto Sales. Kevin enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He spent many hours traveling, snowmobiling, and hunting (even shooting a bear) with his friends. He especially enjoyed the many hours camping and fishing with his family. He loved having his step-daughter and his sons help out at the shop with sales, book work and detailing cars. His boys spent many hours at the shop helping their dad, riding motorcycles and snowmobiles and picking tomatoes. They canned many jars of tomatoes over the years. Kevin had an especially close relationship with his granddaughter, Novah, whom he called “Papa Kevin's #1 buddy”. Knowing his time was growing short, he bought a camper in 2017 and spent each weekend traveling to campgrounds and lakes with his children, soaking up each moment he had with them. He was also known to his family as their “encyclopedia”. No matter what they asked him, he always seemed to know the answer. Kevin was a fighter and he refused to give up on life when he got his ALS diagnosis. He got the last spot in the Brainstorm Research trial at Mayo Clinic in the early stages of the disease. He was even featured in a documentary about that trial. Several times, he traveled to Bangkok, Thailand for more research trials, never giving up hope for a cure. He continued to work at his shop until the end and was so thankful for his amazing friends and family that helped him to do that. Those whom he called friend were blessed to know him. Kevin is survived by his wife, Pam Haas of 22 years; his sons, Cartrite and Callahan; his stepdaughters, Tiffany Meiners Bauer and Clarissa Guillaume (Nick Peterson), all of Caledonia; his grandchildren, Dominick, Bentley, and Julian, Novah (Papa Kevin's #1 buddy) and Rylen; his parents, Earl and Bev Haas of Waukon and his sister Shari (Charlie) Peterson of La Crosse, WI. Honorary pallbearers will be: Jason St Mary, J.C. Nerstad, Nate Rask, Randy Bearbower, Ross Bearbower, Dean Schutte, Dave Graf, Bob Regan, Nick Peterson, Mike Monachello, and Randy Steele. Visitation will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Caledonia, Thursday, August 1 from 3-7 pm. Funeral services are Friday, August 2, at 11 am at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Pastor Steven Meyer will officiate. Visitation will also be from 10-11 am before the service at the church on Friday.

KEVIN JOEL HAAS

February 4, 1967 - July 28, 2019