HAAS, Magdalin 1907-2003
HAAS, KRAINER
Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/7/2009 at 20:27:47
ST. ANSGAR, IOWA - Magdalin Haas, age 96, of St. Ansgar, died on Monday, February 10, 2003, at the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center, after a bout with the flu.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the St. Ansgar Catholic Church in St. Ansgar, with the Rev. Mark Reasoner and the Rev. Scott Fleischer (Magdalin's great-nephew) officiating. Inurnment will be in St. Ansgar Cemetery in St. Ansgar.
Magdalin Haas, P.R.N. was born Jan. 17, 1907, in Szulok, Hungary, the daughter, of Stephen and Christine (Krainer) Haas. The family emigrated to America around 1915, entering Ellis Island, N.Y. Stephen arriving first, followed a while later by Christine and the two daughters, Mary Magdalena (Magdalin) and Julie. The family resided in Chicago, then moved on to St. Ansgar, where Stephen started a blacksmith business in the present Allstate Insurance building on the Main Street (Fourth Street) of St. Ansgar. They lived above the business.
After graduation from St. Ansgar High School, Magdalin returned to Chicago and completed her nurses training at Washington Boulevard Hospital (now known as "Rush") in 1929. After graduation she worked at several Chicago area hospitals, including West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park. While in Oak Park, she lived several years with her brother-in-law's sister, Hertha Fleischer (also formerly of St. Ansgar).
Magdalin took on special nursing assignments as a 24-hour live-in nurse for seriously ill patients. She frequently would drop what she was doing and go wherever she was needed, many times caring for young children. To this day, several people across the country, adoringly call her their "Aunt Magdalin"!
While Julie's husband, Al Fleischer, served in World War II, Magdalin left Chicago to aid Julie who was pregnant with Phil and living alone in Wells, Minn. Later she returned to St. Ansgar to be with her ailing mother, Christine, in her final days. Upon retiring from active nursing in Chicago in 1957 due to health reasons, she lived in her Mom's house in St. Ansgar.
She became active in the St. Ansgar Catholic Church, and helped start the Senior Saints Citizen Center in St. Ansgar.
She enjoyed taking care of her neighbor's children, gardening and going on long walks around town. She also enjoyed helping the elderly by getting their mail and food. She walked uptown daily in all weather (including below zero) refusing every offer of a ride. She spent her final seven years at the Good Samaritan Center where all the staff loved her pleasant cheerful personality.
Magdalin was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Julie; and her brother-in-law, Al.
She is survived by her nephews, Ron Fleischer, of Morro Beach, Calif. and Phil Fleischer, of St. Ansgar.
A special memorial service for Magdalin will also be held on August 8, 2003 in St. Ansgar.
Arrangements are by Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar; (641) 713-4920.
[Mason City Globe Gazette]
Mitchell Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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