R. Harlan Anderson

R. Harlan Anderson, 89, of Normal passed away at 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, 2012 at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal.

A celebration of life service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1617 E. Emerson Street, Bloomington. Pastor Brian W. Goke and Pastor Harold Skillrud will officiate. Visitation will be 10-11 a.m. Thursday at the church and also the family would like to invite everyone to a luncheon following the service at the church where they will receive friends. Private inurnment will be in the St. John’s Lutheran Church Columbarium, Bloomington, IL. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Faith in Action or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Harlan was born Sept. 5, 1923 in Bloomington, the second son of Fred and Mary Jacobson Anderson. He married Lorene Bossingham Howe on May 28, 1949 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Bloomington, IL. She survives.

Also surviving are very special cousins in Sweden and the U.S. with whom he and Lorene had many wonderful visits through the years. Other survivors include Lorene’s nieces and nephews and their families, Don Lahr, Gibson City, Elaine Cunningham, Minonk, Terry Wingate, Omaha, Neb., Betty Pugh, East Peoria, Roy Bossingham, Clinton, Wis. and Tory Hall, Shreveport, La. and his sister in-law, LaVerne Lahr, Normal.

He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Fred, Jr.

Harlan retired from State Farm Insurance Company in 1987. He was the oldest living continuous member at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Bloomington, where he sang in the choir for over 60 years. He served on the church council for 17 years and was a committee member for building the fellowship hall and sanctuary at St. John’s. In 1994 he was asked to research and recommend an appropriate columbarium for St. John’s which resulted in the erection of the beautiful cross columbarium in the courtyard.

Harlan was a member of the Vasa Swedish order of America and the Bishop Hill Heritage Society, Bishop Hill, Ill. and the LST Association. Harlan was honorably discharged from the Navy after serving 2 years in the South Pacific Theater, World War II, as a Quartermaster C-3 on the LST 574. He participated in major invasions in New Guinea, Philippines, Borneo, Korea, Japan, China, Manchuria and Leyte. He was awarded the Philippine Liberation Ribbon 1 Star, Asiatic Pacific ribbon 2 Stars, American Area Ribbon and the Victory Ribbon.

Harlan will be remembered especially for his engaging personality and good humor. Arrangements are being handled by Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington.

Please view the obituary and share your condolences and memories online at www.calvertmemorial.com.

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Eleanor Mae Christianson

Eleanor Mae Christianson, formerly of Bode, Iowa and currently residing at her son’s home in Bloomington, died peacefully Friday, Dec. 7, 2012) in Bloomington.

Services will be at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Bode on Saturday with the Rev. Steve Bliss officiating. Burial will be at St. Olaf Cemetery in Bode. Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home, Bloomington, is in charge of local arrangements.

Area survivors include her son, Kevin (Julie) Christianson, grandchildren, Cody (Sarah Watson) Christianson, Anna (Drew Milliken) Christianson, David Christianson, Ryan Alderman, and Kristin Ryburn; great grandchildren, Kingsten Christianson and Emma Ryburn; and son, Kent (Karen Goldberg) Christianson, former Bloomington resident.

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Louis Francis Haas

Louis Francis Haas, 92, of Bloomington, died at 6:03 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012 at his home.

His funeral will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home and at 10 a.m. Friday at Holy Trinity Church, Bloomington, with Monsignor Douglas Hennessy officiating. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Normal. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, where the rosary will be recited at 6:45 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Trinity Church or Central Illinois Honor Flight, 712 E. Jefferson, Effingham, IL 62401.

He was born Sept. 17, 1920 in El Paso, Ill., the son of Andrew and Eliza Kelly Haas. He married Dorothy J. Kearney on July 20, 1945 at the Naval Base in Bremerton, Wash. She died March 17, 2008.

Surviving are four daughters, Trish (Steve) Cleary, El Paso, Molly (Sam) Achord, Bloomington, Cindy Hochstetler, Bloomington and Julie (Clair) Cross, Bloomington; three sons, Mike (Ann) Haas, Bloomington, Dan (Joyce) Haas, St. Charles, MO and Dave Haas, Bloomington; eighteen grandchildren, Scott (Hadley) Haas, Angie (Paul) Halvorsen, Kristin (Luke) Haas-Jolley, Pete Cleary, Katie (Jim) Kueter, Paul (Ashley) Cleary, Ginger (Richard) Hertzel, David (Lisa) Bertel, Shanna Achord, Tom (Karen) Hochstetler, Jim (Leanne) Hochstetler, Mark (Kana) Hochstetler, Jon (Melissa) Hochstetler, Noah Hochstetler, Michael Hochstetler, Brian Cross, Amanda (Aaron) Rickenberg and Jacob Cross; nineteen great-grandchildren; and a brother, Jim Haas of El Paso.

He was preceded in death by eight siblings, Ozzie, Cletus, Floyd, Mary, Monica, Ray, Helen and Lucille; and one granddaughter.

Louis attended Brown’s Business College and Northwestern University prior to enlisting in the U.S. Navy. He spent his career self-employed as an accountant. Louis was a member of Holy Trinity Church. He was an avid woodworker and golfer who was blessed to have been able to golf on his 92nd birthday. Louis especially enjoyed his Thursday morning coffee group at Lucca Grill.

He was surrounded by his family throughout the last week of his illness. Louis was supported by prayers all over the world.

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