Vernon E. Haake

A Private Family Funeral Service was held on Monday, June 8, 2020 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Daykin, Nebraska with Pastor Kristine Hileman presiding. Organist, Jerry Brueggeman, accompanied the congregation as they sang 3 hymns during the funeral service, “Faith Of Our Fathers”, Blest Be The Tie That Binds” and “Amazing Grace”. Casket Bearers included Matthew Haake, Aaron Haake, Derrick Haake, Jake Dunworth, Matt Schwisow, Jon McNabb and Aneas Washington. A Public Graveside Service for Vernon was held on Monday, June 8, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. at the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery in Daykin, Nebraska. Memorials were directed to the family to be designated at a later date. Farmer & Son Funeral Home was in charge of funeral arrangements. Vernon Earl Haake, grandson of Ernest and Katherine Haake and son of Norman and Wilda Baldwin Haake Schwisow was born on July 11, 1937 in Powell, Nebraska. He departed this life to revel in the fields of heavenly glory on June 3, 2020 in Fairbury, Nebraska at the age of 82 years, 10 months and 23 days. Vernon was baptized at home and was a lifelong member of St. John Lutheran Church in Daykin, NE. Faith is something that Vernon relied heavily on in his youth as his father passed away of lung cancer in 1947 when Vernon was only 10 years old. He was left behind with his mother and two brothers, Larry and Donald. His mother remarried Reuben Schwisow a year and a half after his father’s passing and together they added his youngest brother, Rick. Vernon attended school in Daykin where he graduated in 1954. The following summer he married the love of his life, Norma Jean Schielke, on June 17, 1955. In fact, since he was only 17, they had to go to Kansas to get married since you had to be 18 at the time to marry in Nebraska. God blessed them with two sons, Michael Patrick and Gary Lee. They made their home east of Daykin for 34 years before moving to Daykin in 1992. Just as Vernon had been the caretaker to his family when he was 10, so was he to Norma until the fall of 2018 when Norma moved to the Alzheimers unit at Heritage nursing home in Fairbury. There was rarely a day that went by that he didn’t go visit her. Even with the pandemic, he would sit outside her window just to see her. Vernon’s love of God’s creation was evident in his everyday way of life. He began farming when his father passed away and with each passing year, his roots grew deeper in his devotion for tilling the land. He raised crops along with cattle, hogs and sheep. Even after his retirement he was no stranger to the fields as you would often see him in the buddy seat of a combine or tractor alongside his sons and grandson. Vernon was a person who found the positive in every situation and you rarely saw him without a smile on his face. He loved baseball, especially the St. Louis Cardinals. He was like a walking history book and could give you statistics on any player without batting an eye. Vernon and Norma also enjoyed traveling to various places across the US. They especially enjoyed trips to Branson to visit family and numerous trips to Johnson Lake and Colorado with Norma’s brother Lavern and wife Shirley. Above all, however, they enjoyed watching their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in their activities. You could always count on Vern and Norma a.k.a. Gramps and Granny, supporting them at school concerts, church programs and every sporting event imaginable. This is something that their family will forever be grateful for. Those left to cherish his wonderful memories are his wife of almost 65 years, Norma of Fairbury, sons Mike & Chris Haake of Daykin and Gary & Karen Haake of Oak. Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren Matt (Darcey) Haake, Matthias, Amos, Hannah, Joanna, Emma & Linus; Aaron (Crystal) Haake, Kory, Bella, Noah & Rosa; Deb (Matt) Schwisow, Erika, Kymber & Grady; Heather (Jake) Dunworth, Braelyn; Derrick (Megan) Haake, Maddox, Bryant & Harper; Sara Haake and (Aneas) Washington, Titus; Angela (Jon) McNabb, Colson, Kadin & Kara. Brothers Larry Haake of Daykin, Don & Marci Haake of Lincoln and Rick & Kim Schwisow of Pickrell. Brother-in-Law LaVern & Shirley Schielke of Lincoln along with numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister-in-laws Shirley Haake and Betty Schwisow.

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Vernon E. Haake

July 11, 1937 - June 3, 2020