DL Capt. Eugene "Gene" Haak

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

USAF veteran, DL Capt. Eugene "Gene" Haak

March 19, 1930 – March 9, 2026

 

Delta Golden Wings member Eugene William Haak joined Delta Air Lines 10-03-1955 and was Chicago based.  Gene is survived by his wife Barb, and by his children and their families.  The Haak’s most recent address is listed in whitepages as  6230 State Rd Apt 17, Saline, MI 48176.

 

PCN memorial site

 

https://www.niefuneralhomes.com/memorials/eugene-haak/5694082/

 

Obituary for Eugene "Gene" William Haak

Eugene Williams Haak was born March 19, 1930 in the Chicago suburb of Brookfield, IL to William & Hilda (Knust) Haak, the third of four children. He was baptized and attended grade school at St. Paul Lutheran, Brookfield, IL. and later attended St. John Lutheran, La Grange, IL. In his high school years, he took the train into downtown Chicago everyday to attend Luther Institute, graduating in 1948.

 

Gene then attended a local community college, followed by Purdue University to study aeronautical engineering. He joined the Air Force to serve in the Korean War from 1951 to 1955. He was stationed at Turner AFB as a KB-29 pilot with the 508th Air Refueling Squadron in Albany Georgia. He also spent time in Greenland and Guam on refueling missions.

 

While in the service, he became penpals with Barbara Marie Lee, of Avon Township, Wisconsin. They were married on June 26, 1954 at Luther Valley Church in Rock County, Wisconsin. They were married for over 71 years and raised five children.

 

After the Air Force, Gene was hired as a pilot by Delta Airlines. During his career, he piloted over 9 types of aircraft from the DC-3 to the Lockheed L-1011. They spent the next 34 years living in the Chicago area. Those years were filled with church life-especially singing in the adult choir, along with their children’s school and sports activities. Beginning in 1970, they became licensed foster parents through Lutheran Child and Family Services, welcoming over 60 infants and young children into their home over a 19 year period.

 

Gene’s hobbies as an adult included flying his 1960 Cessna 172, DIY projects, and collecting 1965 & 66 Ford Mustangs for his growing family to drive. At one point, he had five Mustangs! He kept one of the ‘66’s, a turquoise convertible. His grandson, Joel, spent countless hours rebuilding it and still drives it.

 

In 1989, Gene retired from Delta (He retired #5 on the Delta seniority list) and they split their time between Green Valley, Arizona, and “up north” in Michigan, where they built a family cottage near Camp Arcadia, the Lutheran family Camp. Gene enjoyed creative hobbies like woodworking and making stained glass sun-catchers. After 30 years as snowbirds, they left Arizona in 2018 to move closer to some of their adult children in Saline MI.

 

Eugene was a devoted husband to Barb, his wife of 71 years, who survives along with 4 children, Karen (Thomas) Draves of Milan, David (Janette) Haak of Saline, Jeffrey (Linda) Haak of Odenton, MD, and Lisa Haak of Clarendon Hills, IL. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Sarah Santini (Dustin), Erik Draves, Rebekah Hess (Michael), Rachael Wallace (Matt), Joel Haak (Abby), Jefferson Haak, and Jacqueline Wheeler (Josh), along with seven great-grandsons: Matt, Kai, Mo, Judah, and Noah Santini, Finley Wallace, and Nathan Hess. He is preceded in death by his siblings and his oldest daughter, Janet (Parri) Davis of Memphis.

 

Memorial Service:

Christ Our King Lutheran Church

3255 Saline Waterworks Road

Saline, Michigan 48176

Saturday March 14, 2026 at 11:00am