Dan Haskell of Rolla passed away on Monday, Aug. 31, at the Missouri Veterans Home in St. James. He was 71.
Dan was a long-time shop teacher, wrestling and football coach in Rolla before retiring in 2000. To a generation of Rolla students he was simply and affectionately known as Coach.
Dan had four priorities in life and their names were Jane, Dana, Ann and Joannie. His world revolved entirely around his family.
He also leaves behind a beloved younger brother Rick, who lives with his wife Pam in Sedalia, along with three sons-in-law, Cam Pinzke, Jac Cardetti and Adam Blakely, seven grandchildren (Paige and Olivia Pinzke; Ben, Emma and Leo Cardetti; and Sophie and Beau Blakely), countless nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. An infant son, Daniel, preceded him in death.
Dan thought the Gasconade and Big Piney Rivers were the closest thing to heaven on earth. He measured how good any given summer was based on how much time he got to spend on the river with family and friends.
Born in Bethany to Ralph and Rosalie Haskell, Dan grew up hunting, fishing and playing sports. In college at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Dan starred in both football and track, including setting the school record in the 4×400 relay.
Knowing that he was about to get drafted, Dan volunteered for the Army and went to Vietnam with the 82nd Airborne. In 1969, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for “meritorious achievement in ground operations against hostile forces.”
Soon after returning from Vietnam he married the love of his life, Jane Biegel of Brookfield, and resumed his teaching career. It was during this time he started the wrestling program in Brookfield, which for decades was one of the best in the state.
While not born into the Catholic faith, like so many Dan found the church through marriage and was a devout believer and invaluable parishioner.
In 1983, Dan and Jane moved with their three young daughters to Rolla to take teaching positions. They’ve been fixtures in the community ever since.
If you happened to live on Lovers Lane in Rolla during the 1980’s or 90’s, chances are at least once you awoke on a snowy morning to a shoveled driveway courtesy of Dan Haskell, the best friend and neighbor anyone could ask for.
For the past four years, Dan has received tremendous care at the Veterans Home in St. James for Lewy Body Dementia. His family so greatly appreciates the compassion and attention shown to Dan from everyone from doctors and nurses, to his barber Dave Simily and his dentist Bill Moorkamp, who made regular trips to care for him.
In a day and age when you can’t pick up a newspaper without seeing the byproducts of greed and selfishness, Dan Haskell was a kind and thoughtful person who adored his family, thought teaching was the greatest of professions, and who took pride in being part of his community.
Dan’s inherent goodness will be missed by many, but also serves as a reminder of what’s truly important in life.
A funeral mass followed by military honors for Daniel Haskell will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 5, 2015 at the St. Patrick Catholic Church in Rolla. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, September 4 at the Null and Son Funeral Home .
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Missouri Veterans Home of St. James or CORE — Champions of Rolla Education.
Online condolences may be offered at www.nullandsonfuneralhome.com.
All arrangements are under the direction of the Null and Son Funeral Home of Rolla.