Johnny Haag

Johnny J. Haag, 74, passed away Feb. 11, 2018, after a short battle with cancer.

He was born Dec. 27, 1943, in McCook, Neb. He was the third of seven children and only son of Johnny C. and Evelyn (Smith) Haag.

He grew up on a farm 15 miles south of Indianola, Neb. The family later made their home on a farm two miles north of Danbury, Neb. Johnny began helping with the farming and driving a tractor when he was nine years old.

He attended school through the sixth grade at District 50 (a one-room school house), in the country. He attended school in Danbury when the family moved north of Danbury. He later attended Beaver Valley High School when Danbury and Lebanon, Neb. consolidated.

Music was an important part of Johnny’s family. When he was just a boy, he and his sisters enjoyed entering amateur contests. On one occasion when he was eight years old, Johnny happily received his first place prize, and then watched as his sisters, aged 9 and 10, won the second place prize.

Johnny received his GED while serving three years in the U.S. Army. He then married Patricia Vaughn and they made their home in Phoenix, Ariz. He later met and married Jacqueline Terry, who brought to this union Michelle, Patty and Cindy, whom Johnny welcomed as his own. To this union one daughter was born, Evelyn (Jai Jai). They made their home on an acreage in Buckeye, Ariz., where they loved and cared for many animals.

Johnny was superintendent for Ricor Corp., a heavy equipment construction company, until his retirement in 2014.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jackie, in February 2017; his parents, Evelyn and Johnny Haag; grandparents, John J. and Nellie Haag and Carl and Rose Smith; many aunts and uncles; and nephews, Michael Morgan and Tony Miller.

He is survived by daughter, Evelyn (Jai Jai) Harding; step-daughters, Michelle Zeiter, Patty Weaver (Jon), and Cindy Sullivan (Chuck); granddaughters, Lexie and Gracie Harding, Erica Zeiter, Madeline and Brittany Weaver; grandsons, Blake Weaver, Alex and Ray Zeiter and Jon Cole Sullivan, as well as five great-grandchildren; sisters, Jackie Miller of McCook, Neb., Joyce (Bob) Zackery of Holdrege, Neb., Judy (Bill) Loghry of McCook, Jane (Duane) Childs of Glenvil, Neb., Jerri (Gill) Bancroft of Omaha, Neb., and Jill and (Mike) Morgan of Indianola, Neb.; and a host of nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.

The family has honored his request for cremation. Rosary will be held Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. with Mass at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Indianola, father Greg Pawloski will be officiating. Inurnment will be held at Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 25, 2018.