David G. Haake

BLOOMINGTON - David G. (Dave) Haake, (94), Bloomington Pantagraph staff writer for 34 years, (Wednesday February 12 in Acton, Maine)Dave was born November 17, 1925, in White Plains, NY, a son of Dr. Alfred P. and Helen Rice Haake. He married his beloved "Jan," Jeanette Vyverberg, in Decatur on April 23, 1955. She died Dec. 11, 2006A World War II veteran, Dave served with the Army's 194th General Hospital in England, France and Belgium. It was while working as an enema giver, bedpan commando, back rubber and encourager that he learned it is "caring and giving" that really vitalizes life. Army/like, he was transferred to the 194's Admission and Disposition Office after it was learned he could operate a typewriter. Writing and reporting were Dave's boyhood dream. He wrote high school sports for weeklies in Park Ridge and Des Plaines and worked at the Chicago Daily News before being drafted in March 1944. Discharged in 1946, he entered Beloit College, Beloit, WI., where he worked part-time in the college's publicity department. After graduating in 1950, he worked for daily papers in Salem, OR, and Sterling, IL, plus weeklies in Momence and Arcola. He joined the Pantagraph staff in January 1955. It was the "best job he ever had." Each day was different, challenging, often rewarding, filled with people and a quest for facts and all sides of interesting, sometimes sad or occasionally controversial or enlightening stories. Haake had the privilege of covering Normal and Illinois State University through the Bob Bone era, the controversy and campus riots during the Vietnam War and the disruption during David Berlo's presidency. He received the "Pantagrapher of the Year" award in 1969, covered Illinois state legislature sessions in 1976-77, helped cover the death and funeral services of Adlai Stevenson II at the statehouse in Springfield and in Bloomington, started the paper's daily business section and won several writing and photographic awards. He was active in the Koda Roamers Camera Club for 20 years, serving as president, 1988-90, and authoring the club's 50-year history in October 1994. Retiring in January 1989, he joined the Golden K Kiwanis Club and began volunteering at Second Presbyterian Church and joined his wife as a volunteer at the old BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal. As a Kiwanian, he served as club president and 1995-96 Division 22 Lieutenant Governor of the Illinois - Eastern Iowa Kiwanis District. He received the district's Luis Amador Medallion in conjunction with its promotion of spastic paralyses and central nervous system diseases. He helped organize store-front fund drives to support research on iodine deficiency and club programs to benefit children. Golden K'ers named him the first Herb Klynstra Member of the Year in 2005.Dave served several terms as a Second Presbyterian Church elder. He worked as a Stephen Minister, helped write its 150-year history and plan its 2005 celebration. He was on the church's Long Range Planning group that recommended major revitalizations of its organization during 2005-06. Friendships working as a dishwasher in the church kitchen and with the JOY (Just Older Youth) Fellowship were the fun highlights of retirement. Between Koda Roamers', Kiwanis', and the JOY group - Dave and Jan led more than 80 bus trips to special outings and dinner plays. His biggest priority was to make it a brighter day for anyone he encountered with his unending encouragement.