Charles Thomas Haan

Charles Thomas (Tom) Haan was born on July 10, 1941 in Randolph County, Indiana to Charles Leo and Dorothy Mae (Smith) Haan. He graduated from Jefferson High School in Jefferson, Indiana in 1959 and went on to receive a B.S. and an M.S. in Agricultural Engineering at Purdue University. In 1964, he moved to Ames, Iowa and completed his Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering at Iowa State University (1967). While at Iowa State, he met Janice Kay Johnson who became his wife on June 3, 1967. Tom moved with Jan to Lexington, Kentucky, where he was on the faculty at the University of Kentucky until 1978. While in Kentucky, his three children were born: Patricia Kay (1968), Christopher Thomas (1970) and Pamela Lynn (1972). The family relocated to Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1978 where Tom was the Department Head of the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department at Oklahoma State University through 1984. He was a Sarkeys Distinguished Professor, an ASABE Fellow, and member of the National Academy of Engineering. In 2001, he retired from Oklahoma State.

Tom was a devout Catholic who lived his faith through his actions and behavior toward others. In 1997, he was ordained as a Permanent Deacon of the Catholic Church and served the parishes of St. John and St. Francis Xavier in Stillwater. As a deacon, he officiated the marriages and baptisms of several family members. In 2019, Tom and Jan moved to Bryan, Texas, where they became members of St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Tom was an avid fisherman and took frequent family fishing trips to Canada. A typical family vacation involved a camping road trip, often to national parks. A natural athlete, he played basketball in high school, ran marathons, commuted to work by bike, and seemingly effortlessly mastered any physical activity. When he was 70, he hiked the Grand Canyon with several family members. Near the end, Tom asked if it was okay if he went ahead because: “I want to see what I can do.” It was not long before he was spotted high above on the switchback trails.

Tom was admired and respected by all who knew him. His counsel was sought by extended family, colleagues, and church members. He taught his children and grandchildren to be curious about other cultures and regularly invited his international graduate students and their families to his house to share meals and holidays. Tom’s kindness and compassion was demonstrated through service to his community. He was known for his dry sense of humor, often delivering deadpan quips with a twinkle in his eye. He loved his family with all his heart and through his marriage of 57 years to Janice demonstrated what it means to build a loving and supportive relationship.

Tom is survived by his wife, Janice; children, Patricia (Jason) Smith, Pamela (Jillian Daley), Christopher and his children, Kei and Daniel; brothers Bob (Ellie) Haan, Don (Francis) Haan, Fred (Bonnie) Haan; sister-in-law Jane Haan; sister-in-law Janet (Steve) Soboroff; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Dorothy Haan; his parents-in-law, Frank and Mabel Johnson; his brother, Bill Haan; and his sister-in-law, Judy Haan.

A visitation for Tom will be held on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at Memorial Funeral Chapel 1515 S. College Ave. in Bryan, Texas from 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. A rosary will be recited at 7:00 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home. A memorial mass will be held on Friday, March 14 at St. Joseph Catholic Church 600 E. 26th Bryan, Texas 77803.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to St. Vincent de Paul of BCS, 307 South Main Street, Bryan, Texas, 77803, Suite 105, or to the Oklahoma State University Foundation to the Tom & Jan Haan Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering Scholarship (Fund 21-42900). Checks should be made payable to Oklahoma State University Foundation and mailed to the OSU Foundation, PO Box 1749, Stillwater, OK 74076-1749. To make a gift online, go to https://secure.osugiving.com/s/giving/annual?dsgt=21-42900. Please note on your gift that it is in memory of Tom Haan.