Submitted by: Dan Rich

Joseph F. Haas

June 18, 1920 - Oct. 2, 2000

South Bend Tribune 10/4/2000

Joseph F. Haas, 80, of Erskine Boulevard, died after an illness on Monday, Oct. 2, in his daughter's home in Granger, Ind. He was born in Sayre, Pa., on June 18, 1920, to the late John E. and Mary E. (Line) Haas.

In South Bend, Ind., on Oct. 11, 1947, he married the former Margaret Ann Foley, who preceded him in death on Oct. 4, 1982. He was also preceded in death by a son, Daniel A. Haas in 1957.

Joseph was a sales representative for the P.I.E. Trucking Company for many years and prior to the P.I.E. Company was the owner and sales representative for Tri Drug Company. He is a World War II Army veteran as a master sergeant and cryptographer. He was a member of St. Matthew's Cathedral, the South Bend Press Club, the South Bend Transportation Club, the Nocturnal Adoration Society, and was a professional Santa Claus for over 42 years. Joseph was an active swimmer all his life, an Ohio state high school champion, and swam for the University of Notre Dame from which he graduated in 1947. Joseph was an active 3rd degree Knight of Columbus Santa Maria #553 member.

He is survived by a daughter, Johnell Ann Andrews of Granger; two sons, J. Kevin Haas of Gurnee, Ill., and Thomas J. Haas of Edwardsburg, Mich.; and by four grandchildren, Emily, Lydia, Jennifer and Thomas.

Family and friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today, Oct. 4, in the Forest G. Hay Funeral Home, located at Jefferson and Ironwood. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 5, in St. Matthew's Cathedral, with Fr. Michael Heintz officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park. Contributions in memory of Joseph F. Haas may be made to Hospice of St. Joseph County, to St. Matthew's Cathedral, or to the Ireland Road Church of God.