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Caroline Gaynor Haas, aged 85, formerly of Grand Rapids and Alto, left this life for glory on Thursday, April 23, 2015, with family and loved ones at her side in her Kalkaska home. With eager anticipation of seeing her Savior, husband Louis, and mother Alice, she leaves behind for a short time her children, Marlene (Jack) Rudolph, Fred (Trudy) Haas, Janet Haas, 6 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, beloved family members and friends. Born in New York, she lived on Long Island, where her love for dogs, horses and literature began. Relocating to Grand Rapids with her mother as a child, she grew to deeply love the Lord's creation. Her love of plants, animals, minerals and her fellow human beings, was passed on to her children and grandchildren, as was her relentless curiosity and sense of adventure. With a hunger for knowledge until the end, she was ever learning, always seeking, often questioning. She served humanity with compassion as an LPN in Grand Rapids at Sunshine Hospital (now Kent Community), Maple Grove Nursing Home and Springbrook Nursing Home, before becoming assistant to the director, then Director of Welcome Home for the Blind on Monroe Ave., and as secretary at our church, St. Michael's Episcopal, Cascade, prior to her retirement. When we weren't busy with work, 4-H and school activities, family trips were a treasure for our family growing up. Our favorite trips took us Up North and throughout the eastern provinces of Canada. We always came back heavier than when we left, due to all the rocks Mom collected. Lou and Carol sold the farm on McCords in Alto, and retired, moving to Kalkaska in 1996 to be closer to Up North and fulfill a lifelong dream of living on the water. Joining them was their beloved dog Frisco, and later, Mom’s dear friend and companion Petey, whom she rescued from a shelter. In the past few years, Petey and Mom loved watching the delights that each season brought to their lakeside abode. Feathered friends would migrate in and out of Wheeler Lake every spring and fall, and Mom would excitedly point them out to visitors and guests, always knowing “her kids” by name and species. With an open heart she nurtured and fed “her kids” and many other animals of the area, sustaining them just as their companionship sustained her. Mom loved her life in Kalkaska and deeply treasured the people it brought to her life.Our many thanks and our love go out to her friends, neighbors and caregivers: The Wheeler Lake Denizens, Kalkaska United Methodist Church, Kalkaska COA, TC AAA, Munson Hospice and Jodie, Scott and Gary, and the Kurkowski Family. In accordance with Mom’s wishes, she has been cremated and a celebration of her life will take place in early June in Kalkaska. Please visit wolfeoneill.com to sign the guest book with your condolences and/or memories of Mom that you would like to share with us. Memorial contributions may be given to the Kalkaska Commission on Aging, The Audubon Society, or the ASPCA.

Tributes

Caroline Gaynor Haas

May 3, 1929 - April 23, 2015