Richard Frederick Haack

Published in The Times from 6/20 to 6/21/2009

Richard Frederick Haack (1922-2009).

On June 15, 2009, Richard "Dick" Haack of Nokesville, VA passed away at the age of 87 due to complications of polymyositis and pneumonia.

Dick was the beloved husband of Marjorie L. (Robbins) Haack for 60 years and was the loving father of Robin L. (Haack) Blaemire.

Dick will forever be remembered by his wife and daughter, as well as his son-in-law, Kevin B. Blaemire; his three grandchildren: Jessica Blaemire Thaxter, Brian Blaemire and Kevin R. Blaemire; and his grandson-in-law, Peter Blaemire Thaxter. Dick is also survived by his two sisters, Evelyn Mason and Marian Yauch, his two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Haack and Sherry Robbins Shelly; and his brother-in-law, Don Robbins; along with countless other family and friends whom he treasured.

Dick loved nothing better than being a father and grandfather, and was looking forward to the birth of his first great-grandchild later this summer.

Dick was born and raised in Hammond, IN. He graduated from Hammond Tech High School in 1941, where he played with his elder brother Robert on the Tiger's 1940 state championship basketball team, and was the last surviving member.

Dick continued his athletic endeavors at Bradley University, where he played baseball and basketball, graduating in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Arts.

He was a member of the Sigma Phi Fraternity and was inducted into the Bradley Hall of Fame upon graduation as a result of his sports accomplishments.

His college career was interrupted to proudly serve his country in World War II. As a member of the 26th Special Service Company of the Army, he participated in the D-Day invasion and helped liberate Dachau, a German concentration camp.

Dick played professional baseball in the Chicago Cubs minor league organization as a pitcher and was a member of the Association of Professional Ball Players of America.

Following his military service and career in professional sports, Dick was a machinist at Hadady Machine Company for 33 years, from which he retired in 1984.

Dick enjoyed the outdoors and especially loved to fish and hunt. He also enjoyed tending to his garden in Pompano Beach, FL, where he and his wife spent part of their retirement before settling in Virginia.

He maintained his lifelong love of sports and enjoyed cheering for numerous teams, including his Chicago Cubbies. Dick was a lifelong member of the Immanuel United Church of Christ in Highland, a 50-year member as a Master Mason of McKinley Lodge No. 712, a member of the Low 12 Club, the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of South Bend Consistory and the Foresters Fraternal Organization.

He was proud to have been inducted into the Hammond Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Dick's memory to The Myositis Association (www. myositis.org) or the American Cancer Society (www. cancer.org).