Al Haas always voted on Election Day, refusing to use an absentee ballot despite the pleas of his wife, Mary Lou Haas.
His wife died in 2002, and Haas continued going to the polls. He died Oct. 30, at age 80, before getting a chance to vote in the presidential election. "When he meets up with Mother again, she is going to rip him for not voting absentee this year," said daughter Sue Reinwald of Durango.
Haas always had wanted to be a lawyer. He practiced law and served as a district judge for 15 years in Durango. As a lawyer, "he was creative, thorough, competent and careful," said a longtime friend, Bruce Kirkpatrick. "There was no funny stuff." But occasionally, he was humorous in the courtroom. Once Haas was defending a man charged with drunken driving after the man drove his car into the Animas River. He was found with water up to his lap. Kirkpatrick, the prosecuting attorney, said clearly the man was drunk. Haas replied, "Just because he was sitting in his car in the river doesn't mean he was drunk."
Kirkpatrick was in Silverton for Haas' first case as a judge. "He had been judge only a week, but he was such a pro you'd have thought he'd been one for 20 years," Kirkpatrick said. "He was very perceptive, and, oh, God, could he see through people."
Haas could be "stubborn as a mule and had a temper you didn't wish to be on the wrong end of," Robin Auld said at Haas' memorial service. But outbursts were short-lived. Haas was a mentor to many young lawyers, Reinwald said. His first aim was not to make money but to ensure a client got good representation, said daughter Cay Haas Lane of Aurora. Often he was paid in Indian jewelry, crops or odd jobs. Haas loved gardening and put bouquets of his own flowers in rooms throughout his home.
Al H. Haas was born June 14, 1924, in Antonino, Kan., and went to Fort Hays College in Kansas, where he met his future wife, Mary Lou Munson.
He earned his bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Denver. He was in the U.S. Army and earned a Purple Heart in World War II.
He and Mary Lou Munson were married July 4, 1946. "They were a perfect match, and when she died, Al died, too," Kirkpatrick said in his eulogy. "It just took 2 1/2 years for his heart to stop beating."
Haas is survived by another daughter, Carol Ronco of Englewood; sons Michael Haas of Durango and Chuck Haas of Aurora; seven grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.
Staff writer Virginia Culver
Jacinda Gilliam sent the above obituary on Sept. 23, 2006
--------------------------------
During WWII he served with Company "C" of the 26th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division.
Social Security Death Index: AL H HAAS 04 Jun 1924 30 Oct 2004 (V) 81301 (Durango, La Plata, CO) (none specified) Kansas
His wife died in 2002, and Haas continued going to the polls. He died Oct. 30, at age 80, before getting a chance to vote in the presidential election. "When he meets up with Mother again, she is going to rip him for not voting absentee this year," said daughter Sue Reinwald of Durango.
Haas always had wanted to be a lawyer. He practiced law and served as a district judge for 15 years in Durango. As a lawyer, "he was creative, thorough, competent and careful," said a longtime friend, Bruce Kirkpatrick. "There was no funny stuff." But occasionally, he was humorous in the courtroom. Once Haas was defending a man charged with drunken driving after the man drove his car into the Animas River. He was found with water up to his lap. Kirkpatrick, the prosecuting attorney, said clearly the man was drunk. Haas replied, "Just because he was sitting in his car in the river doesn't mean he was drunk."
Kirkpatrick was in Silverton for Haas' first case as a judge. "He had been judge only a week, but he was such a pro you'd have thought he'd been one for 20 years," Kirkpatrick said. "He was very perceptive, and, oh, God, could he see through people."
Haas could be "stubborn as a mule and had a temper you didn't wish to be on the wrong end of," Robin Auld said at Haas' memorial service. But outbursts were short-lived. Haas was a mentor to many young lawyers, Reinwald said. His first aim was not to make money but to ensure a client got good representation, said daughter Cay Haas Lane of Aurora. Often he was paid in Indian jewelry, crops or odd jobs. Haas loved gardening and put bouquets of his own flowers in rooms throughout his home.
Al H. Haas was born June 14, 1924, in Antonino, Kan., and went to Fort Hays College in Kansas, where he met his future wife, Mary Lou Munson.
He earned his bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Denver. He was in the U.S. Army and earned a Purple Heart in World War II.
He and Mary Lou Munson were married July 4, 1946. "They were a perfect match, and when she died, Al died, too," Kirkpatrick said in his eulogy. "It just took 2 1/2 years for his heart to stop beating."
Haas is survived by another daughter, Carol Ronco of Englewood; sons Michael Haas of Durango and Chuck Haas of Aurora; seven grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.
Staff writer Virginia Culver
Jacinda Gilliam sent the above obituary on Sept. 23, 2006
--------------------------------
During WWII he served with Company "C" of the 26th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division.
Social Security Death Index: AL H HAAS 04 Jun 1924 30 Oct 2004 (V) 81301 (Durango, La Plata, CO) (none specified) Kansas
Al Haas always voted on Election Day, refusing to use an absentee ballot despite the pleas of his wife, Mary Lou Haas.
His wife died in 2002, and Haas continued going to the polls. He died Oct. 30, at age 80, before getting a chance to vote in the presidential election. "When he meets up with Mother again, she is going to rip him for not voting absentee this year," said daughter Sue Reinwald of Durango.
Haas always had wanted to be a lawyer. He practiced law and served as a district judge for 15 years in Durango. As a lawyer, "he was creative, thorough, competent and careful," said a longtime friend, Bruce Kirkpatrick. "There was no funny stuff." But occasionally, he was humorous in the courtroom. Once Haas was defending a man charged with drunken driving after the man drove his car into the Animas River. He was found with water up to his lap. Kirkpatrick, the prosecuting attorney, said clearly the man was drunk. Haas replied, "Just because he was sitting in his car in the river doesn't mean he was drunk."
Kirkpatrick was in Silverton for Haas' first case as a judge. "He had been judge only a week, but he was such a pro you'd have thought he'd been one for 20 years," Kirkpatrick said. "He was very perceptive, and, oh, God, could he see through people."
Haas could be "stubborn as a mule and had a temper you didn't wish to be on the wrong end of," Robin Auld said at Haas' memorial service. But outbursts were short-lived. Haas was a mentor to many young lawyers, Reinwald said. His first aim was not to make money but to ensure a client got good representation, said daughter Cay Haas Lane of Aurora. Often he was paid in Indian jewelry, crops or odd jobs. Haas loved gardening and put bouquets of his own flowers in rooms throughout his home.
Al H. Haas was born June 14, 1924, in Antonino, Kan., and went to Fort Hays College in Kansas, where he met his future wife, Mary Lou Munson.
He earned his bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Denver. He was in the U.S. Army and earned a Purple Heart in World War II.
He and Mary Lou Munson were married July 4, 1946. "They were a perfect match, and when she died, Al died, too," Kirkpatrick said in his eulogy. "It just took 2 1/2 years for his heart to stop beating."
Haas is survived by another daughter, Carol Ronco of Englewood; sons Michael Haas of Durango and Chuck Haas of Aurora; seven grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.
Staff writer Virginia Culver
Jacinda Gilliam sent the above obituary on Sept. 23, 2006
--------------------------------
During WWII he served with Company "C" of the 26th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division.
Social Security Death Index: AL H HAAS 04 Jun 1924 30 Oct 2004 (V) 81301 (Durango, La Plata, CO) (none specified) Kansas
His wife died in 2002, and Haas continued going to the polls. He died Oct. 30, at age 80, before getting a chance to vote in the presidential election. "When he meets up with Mother again, she is going to rip him for not voting absentee this year," said daughter Sue Reinwald of Durango.
Haas always had wanted to be a lawyer. He practiced law and served as a district judge for 15 years in Durango. As a lawyer, "he was creative, thorough, competent and careful," said a longtime friend, Bruce Kirkpatrick. "There was no funny stuff." But occasionally, he was humorous in the courtroom. Once Haas was defending a man charged with drunken driving after the man drove his car into the Animas River. He was found with water up to his lap. Kirkpatrick, the prosecuting attorney, said clearly the man was drunk. Haas replied, "Just because he was sitting in his car in the river doesn't mean he was drunk."
Kirkpatrick was in Silverton for Haas' first case as a judge. "He had been judge only a week, but he was such a pro you'd have thought he'd been one for 20 years," Kirkpatrick said. "He was very perceptive, and, oh, God, could he see through people."
Haas could be "stubborn as a mule and had a temper you didn't wish to be on the wrong end of," Robin Auld said at Haas' memorial service. But outbursts were short-lived. Haas was a mentor to many young lawyers, Reinwald said. His first aim was not to make money but to ensure a client got good representation, said daughter Cay Haas Lane of Aurora. Often he was paid in Indian jewelry, crops or odd jobs. Haas loved gardening and put bouquets of his own flowers in rooms throughout his home.
Al H. Haas was born June 14, 1924, in Antonino, Kan., and went to Fort Hays College in Kansas, where he met his future wife, Mary Lou Munson.
He earned his bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Denver. He was in the U.S. Army and earned a Purple Heart in World War II.
He and Mary Lou Munson were married July 4, 1946. "They were a perfect match, and when she died, Al died, too," Kirkpatrick said in his eulogy. "It just took 2 1/2 years for his heart to stop beating."
Haas is survived by another daughter, Carol Ronco of Englewood; sons Michael Haas of Durango and Chuck Haas of Aurora; seven grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.
Staff writer Virginia Culver
Jacinda Gilliam sent the above obituary on Sept. 23, 2006
--------------------------------
During WWII he served with Company "C" of the 26th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division.
Social Security Death Index: AL H HAAS 04 Jun 1924 30 Oct 2004 (V) 81301 (Durango, La Plata, CO) (none specified) Kansas
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