Entered this world March 23, 1952 Entered God’s Kingdom April 27, 2014

Charles A Haas Jr. (Chuck) was born to Charles (Charlie) and Antoinette (Teedy) Haas in Oceanside, NY. Being in a military family allowed him to have an adventurous childhood taking him to locations such as Japan, Germany and Hawaii. While in Hawaii, Chuck loved being a Boy Scout and earned his way so far as to receiving the esteemed honor of Order of the Arrow. Eventually the family settled in their new home in Newport News, VA. The time had come for the draft, where Chuck proudly served his country in the US Army until he was honorably discharged. Upon returning to Virginia, Chuck pursued his true passion in music after meeting his soon to be wife Katie. Together they played folk, Celtic and traditional songs at various locations including folk festivals and college pubs throughout Newport News while both attending Christopher Newport College of The College of William and Mary, where he received a MA in Communications and Graphic Design. While attending college, he toured with the College Theater Troupe in Poland where he realized time away from Katie was not meant for his future. Chuck and Katie were married May 15, 1976. While living in Yorktown and Williamsburg, they welcomed five beautiful children —Erin, Ian, Annie, Jeremy and Dylan. While raising this crazy bunch, Chuck worked as a park designer for several years and went on to work for CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network) in Virginia Beach as a graphic designer. During a short period of this time, Chuck was blessed to have his nephew, Johnny, come live as a part of the family. In 1993, Chuck made the decision to take a position in graphic design which relocated the family to Colorado Springs, CO. Soon after he branched away with a business partner, Tim Jaycox, to open their own design firm —Haas and Jaycox Designs. Chuck created Chuck Haas Designs when Tim and his family moved to Arkansas. In 2004, Chuck and Katie welcomed his sister, Beth, into the Haas household. Woodmen Valley Chapel became a major outlet for Chuck to perform his love for music and theater. While playing guitar for the Worship Team, he also had the opportunity to pursue his love for acting as Ebenezer Scrooge in “Scrooge, The Carol With An Attitude” where he was well known in the community. Just in case he got bored, Chuck decided to tour with the band, Cede, throughout various states where he had the honor to open for Steven Curtis Chapman at the Pepsi Center. In light of all of this, he met his treasured friend and fellow musician, Dan Tharaldson. Through their friendship and casual practices, they realized the time had come to start their own band “Simple Man,” where they had the privilege of touring throughout the midwest and Canada. Their CD “LeBeaux’s Dance” was recorded with another friend, Paul Jacobson. Chuck also did the graphic design for Positively Pikes Peak, a local tribute to Bob Dylan. He and Katie performed at two of their benefit concerts. On the weekends you would find Chuck playing acoustic music with heart at the Mona Lisa Wine Cellar in Manitou Springs.

Besides his love for music, Chuck was an avid sports fan. He always shared his love for the Dallas Cowboys, despite all of the losses, with his family and friends. He and his brother, Tom, always enjoyed their time together watching the Colorado Avalanche and Colorado Rockies as well. He treasured his time with his best friend and love of his life, Katie, while proudly raising his children including his godson, Jermaine, whom he always considered his fourth son. Above all else, he cherished spending time with many beautiful grandchildren, Kylie (7); Skylar (2); Landon (1); Baby Owen (6 weeks); and was looking forward to meeting his step grandchildren, Chloe and Cameron.

Chuck was a great man, and “great” is used in the purest sense of the word. Greatness changed a thousand dirty diapers, stayed up long nights at work, cooked wonderful Tuscan meals for family and friends, played his lovely guitar music and sang with us and for us. He had the courage to admit when he was wrong and to change, even much later in life. The unspoken thread running through Chuck’s beautiful life was the love of God —a love that was underneath, above and surrounding everything he loved and lived for. No matter what he felt or went through, he would always surrender to the great Lover of his soul — the One who had known his complex heart so thoroughly, it changed his “wild and precious” life so deeply.