Nelson Clifford Haas passed away last night after a few weeks under Hospice care. My Dad was a High School baseball player. He enlisted in the Army out of school and was stationed in Post Korean War Japan. Japan was already baseball crazy at that time, and since it was peacetime, he had the opportunity to pursue his interest in baseball, football and basketball on base.
Upon returning to the Bay Area of California, he was the first triple letter athlete at Cabrillo Junior College playing Tight End, Small Forward and Outfield. He maintained a killer hook shot into his 50s which he used to great effect against my brother and me-and later a younger cousin.
Coming out of JC, he was called into the ministry which took him, and us, from Ohio/West Virginia, to Pasadena, CA, to Flint/Lansing Michigan, to Portland, Oregon and his last post in Russellville, AR. He stayed active in softball well into his 50s where I got to share a few seasons in church league playing together.
Upon retirement, he gave his life to a local golf course in Eastern Oregon where he played every day the course was open until his body began to fail him in his 70s. His most prolific year saw him log over 700 rounds, playing 1.5 to two rounds/day.
His post-golf retirement found him in Mesa, AZ and his last three years with my brother’s family getting his fill of TV news, good food and vanilla ice cream.
Rest Easy
“Let him be thirsty no more” Rest easy dad
I was first acquainted with Mr. Haas (as I called him), when my sister married his son, Jason. But I came to know and consider him a friend, after he moved in to my sisters family home, during the last two years of his life. I spent nearly every Sunday with him, for the past two years. We talked about many things… his hobbies and interests, sports, his time in the military, his years growing up, family, all the places he lived, and his belief in God. He had a funny sense of humor, even after his memory failed. I’m so thankful you are at peace. I love you Mr. Haas, and look forward to seeing you in God’s Kingdom.