John Harold Hauck

Some fifteen-sixteen years ago, Dorothy came walking into my salon with a tall handsome man full of friendliness and vitality. Both had the smiles of teenagers on their faces. We (the women in the salon) had been enjoying Dorothy’s stories of their courting. Finally, we got to meet John Hauck. From the moment he reached his hand out to shake mine, I instantly knew I liked him. Not long after, I started cutting his hair. A very enjoyable thirty minutes that I always looked forward to. A man full of wisdom and confidence. He always made it a point to ask me how my day was going. The first time I cut his hair, as I finished, I turned him around to look in the mirror. Looking at himself, he quickly raised his eyes to meet mine, smiled a big smile and said, ‘Tracy, I believe you’ve done a real Picasso!’ At the end of every hair cut I gave him from that time on, he would smile and say, ‘looks like another Picasso!’ I’ve been reflecting back on my time with Harold Hauck. Reading some of the wonderful things his children and friends have written. To sum it up, I believe Harold Hauck was the Picasso.

So, HH here is my tribute to you. Some 34 years and counting I became part of your family. Oh the tales I could tell, but I will only share a few of my very fondest ones. ~ Like going with you and Katie to see Godspell at the old football stadium @ K-State in 1974. Mike and I young , looking to you both for guidance in our future life together, and what we saw was truly amazing. The two of you still in love, having fun together and sharing an evening with your college age son and daughter in law. It was a real ‘hippie’ kind of experience. Ill never forget it, the music, the warm air swirling around us and the feeling that I was now part of another family. ~ A few years later and Mike and I are enjoying a Friday night at our apt. in Topeka with our new little daughter Megan, just a baby. A loud knock on the door and there you were with Katie smiling like a couple of nuts, saying ‘ we just wanted to drop by and see what Megan was up to?’ How we laughed and how we knew you would be one exceptional grandfather to our children. And you sure proved us right. ~ Later, when our own Katie arrived, you continued to make both our girls feel special and loved. I thank you for that, from the bottom of my heart. ~ Just last summer when you were here for Megs wedding and all the support you brought with you. I can still see you sitting on the front pew beside my dad and thinking to myself what a blessed woman I was to have the two of you in my life. ~ I must say ‘ Its a wonderful Life ‘ and you will always be a one of the reasons. Thanks again for the hugs, the sweet birthday cards, loving your granddaughters, raising a man like Mike , making it to all the graduations, brunch @ the Space Needle, vacations with family, your wonderful Caesar salad , your unforgettable voice, and for loving meI will miss you and look forward to seeing you again. I am sure I will hear you as I come through those heavenly gates saying ‘ hey babe ‘ and the celebrating we will do!! deb

Dad – with your departure, I am filled with many wonderful memories of our life together as a family. These include significant milestones such as births, graduations, weddings, reunions, retirements and funerals. Other events, which seemed much less significant at the moment, have grown in importance with time. Just a few of these include: – Winter weekend afternoons at the school gym, shooting hoops and jumping on the trampoline – Going to the dump – Playing catch – Helping us organize the ‘Back-yard Relays’ track meet in our yard. – Exploring the banks of a creek – Doing the dishes – Setting me up with my own paper route – Tagging along as you made your rounds as a park ranger on the Olympic Peninsula – Advising me to pursue a career in engineering and giving me permission to do something else – Making me take a dance lesson – Road trips to far away and unusual places – Caring for our vegetable garden – Seeing plays and concerts These are the memories I cherish the most. Doing things together and sharing the experience. You encouraged us to learn and explore and experience many unfamiliar things. Some we embraced and made a part of our lives. Others we abandoned willingly, but with full knowledge of the experience. Each of our lives is fuller and happier because of your encouragement and confidence. Finally, I would like to thank you for being my Dad and showing me how to be one. Knowing when to give me a boost and knowing when to let me struggle, but always there to protect me from harm. It is the single greatest gift you can give your son. So Dad, I look forward to shooting hoops with you for eternity. Until then, I will miss you. Your loving son – Mike

John Harold Hauck January 23, 1930 – April 11, 2009 ‘You have plenty of courage, I am sure,’ answered Oz. ‘All you need is confidence in yourself. There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid, and that kind of courage you have in plenty.’ – L. Frank Baum (Wizard of Oz) Grandpaheres my tribute to you and the legacy that was your life. Youre the grandfather any kid dreams about, but a fortunate few ever get to brag about actually having. A man who took the time to invest in his grandkidsand to show them that with the right expectations of self, you can attain your dreams. I remember walking into your house in Holton and seeing you and Grandma sitting, legs crossed, in your two papasan chairs. Some type of jazz music softly playing from your stereo. No doubt you two talked about everything and nothingenjoying each others company without necessitating any words. Youd unfold your hero-like frame and tell us youd planned a trip to the park, museum, or local garden. It never really mattered where we went, but we always knew youd have something up your sleeve. Fast forward a few years and Im your awkward twelve-year-old granddaughter who you invite to a summer dinosaur dig in Colorado. You and Grandma have those ridiculous safari hats and you and Chris spend every night grabbing a frosty from Wendys and talking about those legendary Cubs. It was a week full of adventure and insight – and feeling like I was the apple of your eye. Forward again and its just you and me at Embry-Riddle – flying a Cessna over ancient Indian ruins and learning more than we cared too about how it feels when you drop altitude too quickly. I can recall teaching you during one of the sessions how the flight simulator worked on the computer and in the evening, wed play gin rummy and take walks around the campus enjoying the quick cooling desert air. Whether it was your support at my graduation, a card in the mail with smiley face stickers on the envelope and youre unmistaken hieroglyphic handwriting, or the booming belly laugh youd get when something REALLY funny happened – youve been a living demonstration of embracing life for all it has to offer and refusing to be content with mindless routine. By example, youve taught us all to never stop exploring, learning, finding adventure and making time to be with those you love the most. I knew that when I saw you at the end of January this year that your earthly time was nearing its end – and in sitting by your side and in saying goodbye you still had that same spirit in your fierce blue eyes which reassured me still that your next adventure, albeit the best one youd yet to experience – was going to be a great eternal journey. Though words never will truly suffice, I consider myself severely blessed to have called you ‘my Grandpa’ and to be a part of your legacy and inspiration for all my days yet to come.

Dear Dorothy. We are saddened by Harold’s death and want to express our sincere Sympathy. We hope that your faith and the support of all of your family and friends will comfort you during this time of grief. Peace be with you, Ursula & Gart

I met Harold and Dot several years ago when my husband and I were taking ballroom dance classes. Harold was always a very gracious dance partner and if we made a mistake, which happened sometimes with frequency, it would always be laughed off and the dance would go on. We lost touch with them after the dance school we attended closed, but I ran into Harold and Dot a couple of years ago while visiting the church they attended. Harold and Dot greeted me warmly as soon as they saw me and introduced me to several other people. Harold was a kind person and a true gentleman. He will be will be missed. Janet and Paul Malcom