Barbara Haehn Obituary

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO Barbara Oneta (Bennett) Haehn, 80, died Thursday, December 29, 2011 in Memorial Hospital. The children she brought into the world were with her when she left their presence to join our Lord in heaven. A Memorial Mass will be held at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church, 8755 Scarborough Drive, Colorado Springs. A reception will follow at the church. Barbara was born May 22, 1931 in Beth-El Hospital (now Memorial Hospital) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was the first born child to John Howell Bennett and Genevieve Oneta (Kifer) Bennett. They lived in Colorado and Utah where Barbara's father was a coal miner and her mother a beautician. Barbara graduated from Colorado Springs High School (now Palmer High School) in 1949. After high school Barbara worked for the Walter Drake Company before marrying Martin L. Haehn, a young army serviceman, on November 11, 1950. While Martin served in the Army, Barbara travelled with him through Europe and the United States eventually settling in Minnesota and then in Colorado Springs after Martin retired from military service. In Colorado Springs, Barbara worked for the City Utilities and later at School District 11 where she was employed as a teacher's aide serving special education students in the 1970's and early 1980's. Barbara believed strongly in the importance of education and encouraged each of her children to attend college. She was very proud that all of her children graduated from a Colorado university. In 1982, Barbara retired from the district in order to focus on providing child care for her grandchildren and working with Martin on their five acre organic farm east of Colorado Springs. Barbara prided herself on serving meals comprised solely of foods raised on the farm she and Martin carefully tended. After Martin retired from civil service, they sold the farm and travelled the United States in a motor home, visiting family, friends and new places. By 2000 they sold the motor home and settled year-round in Colorado Springs. A descendent of pioneers, Barbara had enormous fortitude and courage, strengths that helped her to fight and survive breast cancer. Barbara was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and she was cherished by all of her family. Barbara is survived by her husband of 61 years Martin Lowell Haehn; two daughters, Ann Haehn (husband Mike Ferris) and Susan Szpyrka (husband John) of Colorado Springs; three sons, John Haehn (wife Robin) of Sterling, Colorado, David Haehn of Colorado Springs, and Steven Haehn (wife Linda) of Fort Collins, Colorado; eight grandchildren, Genevieve (Pogar) Johnson of Castle Rock, Michael Pogar (fiancé Mary Cornthwaite) of Denver, 2Lt. John L. Szpyrka (wife Shannon) of El Paso, Texas, Christine (Haehn) Ritchie (husband Taylor) of Fort Collins, Colorado, Martin L. Haehn II of Mitchell, South Dakota, Katharina Anne Haehn and Stephanie Haehn of Fort Collins, Colorado, and David Joseph Haehn of Colorado Springs; and five great-grandchildren, Tyler, Hannah, Aiyana, Mason, and Dustin. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters Jacqueline Dee (Bennett) Lawson and Margaret Ann (Bennett) Jones. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Genny's Hope Foundation, Post Office Box 64603, Colorado Springs, CO 80962. Services are entrusted to Swan Law Funeral Directors, Colorado Springs.