William was born on July 15, 1946 in Swormville, NY to the late Edward and Mary Haas.
Known to everyone as Bill, Dad, “Little Papa” & “The PaPa”, his infectious smile would spread through any room he entered. With his loving wife always at his side, his unmatched work ethic and motivation led to decades of successful business ventures and opportunities spanning from coast to coast and even on foreign soil. Bill was always proud to work shoulder to shoulder with his children, sharing his love for hard work, craftsmanship, and quality with his family. He always took the time to pass on his years of knowledge and experience to anyone who would listen; from the most complex of construction projects to the proper way to sweep a floor. “The PaPa” enjoyed every moment he was able to spend with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, attending dance recitals, sports games, and music lessons just to name a few, prefacing nearly all events with “be the best that you can be”. Bill never missed an opportunity to tell anyone who would listen just how lucky he was to have such a loving wife and family, and how proud he was of his children. He was passionate about flying and received his private pilot’s license, dreaming of one day owning a helicopter and constantly telling those who would listen what color it would be, and where he would take you flying to show you the countryside.
Bill’s strong and warm embrace, kind words of wisdom, and quite compassion when listening to others could melt the most jaded of hearts. The countless number of lives he touched throughout the years will surely never be able to be counted. Dad’s shared wisdom consistently included “we all do it different”, “you can’t take it with you”, and “it won’t matter 5 years from now”. He would give you the shirt off his back and then ask you what else you needed. He lived a life of service and was most happy when he was giving freely to others. Whether offering a ride to a complete stranger on the side of the road or driving 1400 miles round trip at the drop of a dime, he was happy to help anyone who needed it.
As an eloquent storyteller he never missed a chance to weave a tale of days gone by with incredible detail, often retelling the same saga each time he saw you, but always with the same smile and enthusiasm. He will be missed by his friends and family, but surely never forgotten. The tales he so passionately shared with everyone, the memories made with friends and family, and the stories about Bill we all pass on to others, will carry his legacy through the ages in all our hearts.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brothers Gerard, Paul, Norman, and Larry.
He is lovingly remembered by his wife of 52 years, Karen Haas; son, Tyler Haas (Joan); daughter, Danielle Mayer (Jason); and son Brandon Haas (Julie). His brothers, Jerome Haas (Mary), Robert Haas (Diane), Daniel Haas (Joann), and sisters Marilyn Ruberg and Kathryn Haas. His grandchildren; Kacie Haas, Preston Haas, Savannah Hawkey, Grace Mayer, Ryan Mayer, Sydney Haas, and Will Haas, and his great-grandchildren, Christopher Burton, Emerson Gustafson, Jaxx Burton, and Ty Hawkey.
The family will receive friends and guests on Thursday, May 19, 2022, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Apex Funeral Home, 550 W. Williams St, Apex, NC 27502. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, May 20, 2022 at 1:00 PM at St. Michael Catholic Church, 804 High House Rd, Cary NC 27513, followed by a burial at Montlawn Cemetery, 2911 S Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27603. The funeral mass will be livestreamed for those that are not able to make it or wish to view from home. To watch the funeral mass at it's scheduled time use the following link https://www.stmichaelcary.org/live-mass/
In lieu of customary remembrances memorial contributions may be donated to The American Heart Association.
Fond memories and expressions of condolences can be shared online at apexfuneral.net for the Haas family.
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