Eugene “Gene” Robert Haas, 90, was born to Oscar and Clara Haas on September 26, 1919, in New Braunfels, Texas. He graduated as the Valedictorian of the New Braunfels High School Class of 1937.
Gene passed on several academic scholarships and decided to begin his career in the lumber business at Richards-Zipp Lumber Company as their bookkeeper. Eager to learn, he began to develop his lumber skills in material estimating, wholesale lumber purchasing, and customer satisfaction.
In 1940, he joined the Texas National Guard. When World War II broke out, he was activated into the 36th Infantry Division. His service included 7th Army Headquarters Medical Detachment and the 9th Evacuation Hospital. He moved up the ranks and was soon assigned to General Patton’s Headquarters where he was responsible for medical supplies and equipment during the campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and finally Germany. Gene separated from the Army in 1946 as a First Lieutenant and returned to the lumber business in New Braunfels.
He soon moved to Boerne to help open a lumberyard and that is where he met his favorite customer, Maxine Miller. She was buying lumber materials for her parent’s house. They married in 1952 and have made Boerne their home for the past 58 years. Gene was engaged in many of Boerne’s community organizations. He was a lifetime member of the Boerne Turn Verein, Treasurer of the First United Methodist Church for 25 years, Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 102 (he was an Eagle Scout as were his two sons,) and President of the Boerne Chamber of Commerce.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Clara Conring Haas, his father Oscar Haas both of New Braunfels, TX and his sister Emmy Haas Stevens of Louisville, Kentucky.
Gene is survived by his wife Maxine Miller Haas; sister Virginia Haas Kramer of San Leandro, California; son Richard and his wife Susan of Las Cruces, New Mexico; son Mike and his wife Sandra of Boerne; grandchildren Jason Haas and his wife Sabrina of Alamogordo, New Mexico; Candace Haas Davis and her husband Erik of Las Cruces, New Mexico; Corey Haas, Kata Haas and Clancy Haas all of Boerne; great grandchildren Paige Haas, Isabella Haas and Lola Haas all of Alamogordo, New Mexico and Dallas Davis and Austin Davis both of Los Cruces, New Mexico.
Visitation will be Thursday, August 5, 2010, from 5-7 PM at Ebensberger-Fisher Funeral Home. The funeral will be Friday, August 6, at 11 AM at the First United Methodist Church in Boerne. Interment will follow at the Boerne Cemetery. To leave condolences for the family or to view a video of Gene’s life, visit www.ebensberger-fisher.com and select the Obituaries tab. The family asks that donations be made to a charity of personal choice in lieu of flowers.
Arrangements with Ebensberger-Fisher Funeral Home of Boerne.