Melvin Edsel Haas

Melvin Edsel Haas, age 88, passed away peacefully on June 22, 2015, at his home in Walla Walla. Mel had a short battle with brain cancer. Mel was born on May 7, 1927, in Aberdeen, Wash., to Marie (Sevcik )Haas and Edward W. Haas.

Mel attended Berney Elementary School. He graduated a semester early from Walla Walla High School to enlist in the U.S. Navy in February 1945. Mel was deployed as a machinist mate third class on the minesweeper USS Obstructer. He was discharged in July, 1946. He married Loleta Rimpler on Aug. 31, 1947.

Mel graduated in May 1951 from Whitman College with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He went to work for Baker Boyer National Bank. He began working part time at Pete’s Sport Shop. Eventually he was offered shares in the business by Peter Eyraud and became the shop’s owner and operator. Mel eventually became an assistant and then a district administer for Little League Baseball for over 50 years. He was a certified ski racing official for the Pacific Northwest Ski Association. He also served as a National Ski Patrol member in earlier years. After he semi-retired and sold Pete’s Sport Shop he became very active in the Elks Lodge, holding all of the chairs and serving as an exalted ruler for the Walla Walla Lodge and also served as a district deputy of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mel was recently awarded a 50 year pin from the Elks. He was privileged to go on the Inland Northwest Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., in September 2013, with his son Doug as his guardian.

Mel was preceded in death by both his parents and his two elder twin sisters, Eleanor Susan (Haas) Merriam and Elaine (Haas) Bloom. Mel is survived by his wife of 68 years, Loleta (Toots) E. Haas; his daughter, Marjie (Fred Staloch) Taylor, of Yakima; his son, Douglas (Marci) Haas, of Clovis, Calif.; two grandchildren, Joshua Haas/Toni Alvarez, and Abigail (Eric) Arii of Fresno, Calif.; his aunt Helen Nepil of Gunnison, Colo.; several nieces and nephews; and several step-brothers, step-sisters and cousins.

There will be a private family interment before the memorial service at Emmanuel Lutheran Church on June 27, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to the Washington Elks Therapy Program for Children, Emmanuel Luthern Church, or a charity of the donor’s choice, through the Herring Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder St., Walla Walla, WA, 99362.