Olga Emma Haas was called to her heavenly home on Tuesday, July 13, 2010, at the age of 95. She was born on January 2, 1915, to Frank & Martha Etzler Laake in Lavaca County. She is survived by her children John Haas and wife Beverly of Hallettsville, Charlene Pillow and husband John of Hallettsville, Robert Haas and wife Brenda of Victoria, Dennis Haas and wife Gerardette of Hallettsville, Charles Haas and wife Kathy of Hallettsville, Linda Upham and husband William of Victoria, and son-in-law Emil Chanek of Victoria. She is also survived by 18 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband John, two daughters Elrose Haas and Marjorie Chanek, two brothers Joe Laake and Paul Laake, and one sister Elizabeth Onheiser.

The first few years of Olga's life was spent helping her parents, two older brothers and younger sister on the farm. They lived on a farm 3 miles off FM 530 in Hallettsville and later moved northwest of Hallettsville. Olga attended Sacred Heart School and later continued her education at Radhost School until the eighth grade.

Olga met John Frank Haas and began dating and together they enjoyed dancing at Worthing Hall on Saturday nights. They were married on September 26, 1939, by Rev. Beck at Sacred Heart Church. As newlyweds, they rented a house for a year and later purchased 60 acres 4 miles north of Hallettsville. Olga and the children did the farming while John worked at a tomato shed, Nolan's, Timm's and Weingarten. For years they raised chickens for egg production as well as cotton and corn. People from all over the state would stop to buy their eggs. Cows were milked for milk and butter to sell. As a tradition, when the first cold front blew in a hog was butchered. They worked hard on the farm to earn extra money to support a good Catholic education for their children.

Religion was a major part of their family life. Olga and John enjoyed attending Sacred Heart Catholic School and Church activities, such as the picnic. All of the children attended Sacred Heart Catholic School. They were brought up with a strong Catholic faith.

Olga had a talent for sewing. She sewed her children's clothes and the girls were proud of the dresses their mom made from feed sacks. After the children moved away from home, she continued to sew and alter clothes for the public. She also had a passion for quilting with the Quilting Circle. She continued sewing up to the last few years of her life.

Olga and John had a blessed marriage with a large, healthy family. Just as with all families, there were times of sadness. The most tragic for the family was the loss of their daughters Elrose on March 28, 1972, and Marjorie on March 4, 2008. On April 18, 1991, Olga's loving husband John passed away. The family's faith carried them through such time of sorrow.

Gardening was one of Olga's hobbies. She enjoyed taking care of her garden and always had some of the most beautiful flowers around her house. She took pride in caring for her flowers and garden up to February 2009, when she moved to Stevens Rehab and Nursing Home. Even then, she took care of some flowers in the courtyard at the Nursing Home. Olga also enjoyed spending hours reading novels and the newspaper during the last few years of her life. She could be found sitting in her recliner engaged in a good book or an article in the newspaper.

Olga always enjoyed visiting with family and friends and is remembered by the welcoming smile she had on her face each time someone stopped by to visit. She has touched many people's lives and inspired many with her strong faith in God.

Funeral Mass Service: 10 am, Friday, July 16, 2010, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hallettsville. Visitation: 3 pm, Thursday at Kubena Funeral Home. Rosaries: 7 pm, Thursday at Kubena Funeral Home; and 9:30 am, Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Officiate: Rev. John Peters. Pallbearers: Mike Fikac, Chris Haas, David Haas, Brian Haas, Rodney Haas, Jason Haas, Jeremy Haas, and Billy Upham. Burial: Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Memorials: Sacred Heart Catholic Church or School, Hospice of South Texas, or Donor's choice.

For maps, go to "Links".