John Richard Haga was born on July 3, 1941 in Beckley, WV as the third child to Alma Olive McGinnis Haga and David Lee Haga. He moved with his parents to Glendale, CA when he was 15. He got his first job at the Copper Clock and bought his first car, a Chevy, 3 months after turning 16. This was the first of many cars! After graduation from Herbert Hoover High School he went to community college but ultimately graduated from the University of Arizona with a BS in Business. He met his wife Susan in Tucson and after graduating from Naval Officer Candidate School in Rhode Island, they were married in June 1965. He served as a Photo Reconnaissance Officer at Miramar and his detachment went on two aircraft carriers to Vietnam, The USS Bon Homme Richard and the USS Hancock. In 1968 his first child Carolyn was born. After being Honorably Discharged from the Navy in 1969, the family moved to Sacramento where his second child, Michael, was born. Ultimately, he raised his family in Concord, CA while working in HR at Del Monte and Bechtel. He also received his Masters from St. Mary’s College. Having enough of the corporate world he then sold insurance with his own office for Allstate. He ended his career with USAA selling insurance in Scottsdale AZ.
During these years, he always had a third car to restore. These included Mustangs, Chevy’s amd Model A’s. He also loved his muscle cars! He loved hiking and finished the Rim 2 Rim at the Grand Canyon 11 times! Machu Picchu was a trip he enjoyed with several family members. He also completed the San Francisco marathon and decided one marathon was enough but kept on running to stay in shape. He owned three different bicycles at one point and flipped over the handlebars at least that many times. While living in AZ, his five grandchildren were born, he loved them, was proud of them, and enjoyed their company. He loved to play games and listen to music.
He died peacefully with his wife and children present on April 9, 2019 in Gilbert, AZ after a short bout with renal failure and having Parkinson’s for several years. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Susan Elizabeth Davis Haga, his children Carolyn Lowe (Chad) and Michael Haga (Cheryl), his grandchildren Cameron, Connor, Ian, Catherine and Scott, his brother David Haga (Eileen), his nieces Crystal, Melody and Janet, nephews Gaylend and Robert. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Patricia Ann Ball, his brother William and all aunts and uncles on both sides.
He is at peace and will be greatly missed.
He will be interred at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego, California at a later date.
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