Mary Louise Haas

Mary Louise Haas died Friday, August 17, 2012, at Edward Hospital in Naperville, Illinois. Mary was born December 5, 1922, at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was the eldest child of Elmer W. and Mary Shea Laudon. After graduating from Wauwatosa High School, Mary earned a B.S. in Dietetics from the University of Wisconsin in 1944. Mary interned at the Fitzsimmons Army Hospital of Denver, Colorado, after graduation before accepting a job as the Dietetic Supervisor at Freeport'™s Deaconess Hospital, predecessor to Freeport Memorial Hospital, in 1946. She met her future husband, Roscoe Jerome Haas, of Freeport, during a bridge game with his sister, Marge (Haas) Robinson, a UW college friend of Mary'™s, and his parents, Arthur and Ruth Haas. Roscoe and Mary were married on September 16, 1947, in Elm Grove, Wisconsin, and remained together until Roscoe'™s death in November 2004. Roscoe and Mary had four children, James B. (Mary Lou) Haas of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, Mary Ann Smith of Downers Grove, Illinois, Barbara J. (Thomas) Scripps of Evergreen, Colorado, and William A. (Shannon) Haas of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In addition to being a devoted mother and loving wife, Mary continued her career as a dietician working for various Freeport health care facilities. She was also Roscoe'™s partner in the operation of Emmert Drug Co., a longstanding downtown Freeport retail icon that was owned and operated by the Haas family from 1917 until Roscoe and Mary retired in 1988. Mary was also active in the community. She was the first female board member of the Freeport Pretzel Fan club, and an honorary member of Amity Society and CHAS of Illinois. In addition, Mary was a Rotary Ann and a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, supporting Roscoe throughout his life as a Rotarian. Through Rotary Mary and Roscoe travelled the world and shared dear friends. Mary was also an active member of First (United) Presbyterian Church, including management of its Youth Education Ministry programs in the 1960s. Mary was an accomplished bridge player, accumulating International Master Bridge points playing in a variety of tournaments and marathons that supported her favorite charities. She was also a wonderful cook and an avid reader of mysteries. She also enjoyed playing golf and attending almost all Wisconsin Badger home football games for more than 40 years with Roscoe, friends and family. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister, Jane Dornbach of Elm Grove, Wisconsin, and son-in-law, Karl R. Smith. In addition to her four children, she is survived by 10 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, her brother, Dennis E. (Mary) Laudon of Mequon, Wisconsin, and her sister-in-law, Marge Robinson of Freeport and brother-in-law Robert Dornbach of Elm Grove, WI. A Celebration of Life service will be held at United Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 8, 2012. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations go to the United Presbyterian Church. Please sign the guestbook at www.burketubbs.com.