Walter John Haafke 1919 - 2009

HAAFKE BRCHAN OERTEL

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/5/2010 at 20:19:41

Moville Record, Moville, Iowa
20 Aug 2009

Services for Walter Haafke held August 19 in Bronson

Walter J. "Bud" Haafke of Brandon, S.D., formerly of the area, died Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, in the gentle care of the staff at the Dougherty Hospice House Sioux Falls, S.D. He entered the waiting arms of the Creator at the age of 90.

Services were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, August 19 at Elliott Creek Presbyterian Church in
Bronson, Iowa. There will be a memorial service at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24, at Bethany Meadows Chapel in Brandon. Arrangements were under the direction of Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home in Sioux City. Condolences may be sent online to www.christysmith.com .

Walter John Haafke was born July 27, 1919, in Rapid City, S.D., to William F. and Anna C. (Brchan) Haafke. He moved as a child to a farm near Bronson, where he received his education and graduated in 1937. In 1942, he entered the U.S. Army and served with the U.S. Army Air Corps in India and Burma during World War II.

On Nov. 3, 1945, he married Mary Ann Oertel in Morningside Presbyterian Church in Sioux City. After working at the Stockyards briefly, he took over the family farm. For 15 years, he worked for Walman O p t i c a l Company before retiring. In 2000, the couple moved to Brandon, S.D.

He was a lifelong member of Eljiott Creek Presbyterian Church, Morningside Masonic Lodge 615, American Legion Post 718 in Lawton, Iowa, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4726 in Brandon. He was proud to be a World War II veteran. He enjoyed watching sports of all kinds and loved to play golf, pool and horseshoes. Thankful for sharing his life are his wife of more than 63 years, Mary Ann; daughters, Kathy (Earl) Kemp of Brandon, Kristine (Craig) McNaughton of Lawton, Iowa, Jane (Ron) Palumbo and Edyanne Haafke, both of Sioux Falls, S.D.; a son, John (Doris) Haafke of Bronson, Iowa; a nephew, William F. (Leah) Haafke of Dakota City; nine grandchildren; and five great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Wayne H. (infant twin), William F. and J. Lauren; and a sister, Anita K. Blankley.