Vera Haack, 90

Vera Floy Haack, age 90, of Sturgis, Mich., loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, passed away early Monday morning, May 11, 2009, at the Sterling House in Battle Creek.

She was born Aug. 5, 1918, in Berrien County, a daughter of the late Edwin and Floy (Momany) Rector.

Vera had resided in Sturgis since 1944, coming from Kalamazoo.

On March 29, 1947, she married Vern L. Haack in Logansport, Ind.

She was a graduate of Dowagiac High School with the class of 1936. In 1944, she gradated from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, earning her bachelor’s degree and later receiving her master’s degree in continuing study.

Vera retired from Sturgis Public Schools in 1974, where she taught business education for many years. She had also taught at the Burr Oak Community Schools.

She attended the First United Methodist Church in Sturgis and was a member of the Order of Eastern Star Olive Branch No. 2, the Sturgis Women’s Club and the Sturgis Choir. She enjoyed knitting, musicals, crocheting, literature, traveling and doing puzzles. Vera loved time spent at her and Vern’s home in Florida and their cottage on Long Lake in Colon. Vera had many interests and memberships but she will always be remembered for her quiet and generous hospitality whether it was opening the family home to her children’s friends or never forgetting a friend or relative’s birthday, anniversary or any special occasion. Vera always found time to acknowledge those special times in others lives.

She is survived by her loving and dedicated husband of 62 years, Vern; one daughter, Ellen Jean (James) Losse of Fort Mill, S.C.; two sons, Fred (Lynne) Haack of Sherwood, and Roger (Jean) Haack of Baltimore, Ohio; six grandchildren; Matthew, Jessamyn, Jacob, Jefferson, Katelyn, Elizabeth; four great-grandchildren, Zachary, Ava, Alex and Kalynn; a sister-in-law, Bernice Rector Gwilt of Dowagiac; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Murl Rector.

The family will receive friends from 5-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Hackman Family Funeral Homes Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, where funeral services celebrating the life of Vera F. Haack will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday. Mrs. Haack’s nephew, Pastor David Porter of the Colon Church of Christ will officiate.

A graveside committal will follow the service at the Sturgis Memorial Gardens in Sturgis.

The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mrs. Haack’s memory consider the Good Samaritan Hospice, 166 E. Goodale Ave., Battle Creek, MI 49037. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.

Her obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.