Martin Haehn Obituary

Martin Lowell Haehn, 88, was surrounded by family members when he died at home and left to join our Lord in Heaven on Tuesday, January 6, 2015. Viewing will be Friday, January 9, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. and a Rosary service and reception will follow at 5:00 p.m. at Swan-Law Funeral Home, 501 North Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church, 8755 Scarborough Drive, Colorado Springs.

A reception will follow at the church. Interment services at Evergreen Cemetery are private.

Martin was born November 30, 1926 in Albertville, Minnesota. He was the fifth child born to Martin Haehn and Anne Katie (Illias) Haehn. Shortly after his birth, his parents moved the family to Saint Michaels, Minnesota. At 17, Martin enlisted in the United States Navy and served his country in the South Pacific Theater during World War II. During the war Martin earned the American Area Campaign Medal, the Victory Medal WWII, and the Philippine Liberation/Asiatic Pacific Campaign Ribbon. Martin served on several ships, including the USS California. On August 14, 1945, Martin was on an escort ship for the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay and watched the unconditional surrender of Japan. After World War II, Martin switched branches and became a soldier in the United States Army. While in the Army, Martin once again served in combat and earned the Korean Service Medal with two bronze campaign stars and the United Nations Service Medal. For Martin, the greatest gift the Army gave him happened when he was assigned to Camp Carson, now Fort Carson, Colorado and he met his future wife, Barbara Bennett. Married on November 11, 1950, Martin and Barbara enjoyed an assignment in Germany and toured much of Europe in the early 1950's. Later assignments sent them to North Carolina, Texas, and back to Colorado. During this time Martin and Barbara welcomed their five children to the family. Martin rose to the rank of Tech. Sergeant and in the process earned the Senior Parachute Badge and his Master Wings.

After retiring from military service, the family moved to Minnesota where Martin worked for the Minnesota Mining Company. Returning to Colorado Springs, Martin went to work as a licensed electrician at the United States Air Force Academy, retiring in September of 1988.

Prior to retirement, Barbara and Martin had purchased property in the Black Forest area where they lived and worked a five acre farm, employing garden practices that encouraged pesticide free and organic fertilization methods. For many years, most of the food consumed by Martin and Barbara was grown on their property.

After Martin retired from civil service, they sold the farm and traveled 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.

Martin had enormous fortitude and courage, strengths that helped him to fight and survive bladder, colon, and prostate cancers. Martin was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and he was deeply cherished by all of his family. In the final years of his life, Martin lived with his eldest son, John Haehn and John's wife Robin, who provided exceptional loving care in tending to Martin's needs.

In addition to his son John, Martin is survived by two daughters, Ann Haehn (husband Mike Ferris) and Susan Szpyrka (husband John) of Colorado Springs and two younger sons, David Haehn of Colorado Springs, and Steven Haehn (wife Linda) of Fort Collins, Colorado; eight grandchildren, Genevieve (Pogar) Stepaniak (husband Josh) of Castle Rock, Michael Pogar (wife Nicole) of Denver, Capt. John L. Szpyrka, US Army (fiancé Alejandra) of El Paso, Texas, Christine (Haehn) Ritchie (husband Taylor) of Fort Collins, Colorado, Martin L. Haehn II (fiancé Caroline) of Mitchell, South Dakota, Katharina (Haehn) Ross (husband Bryan) and Stephanie Haehn of Fort Collins, Colorado, and David Joseph Haehn of Colorado Springs; six great-grandchildren, Tyler, Hannah, Mason, Dustin, Ozi, and Dylan; and many nieces and nephews. Martin is also survived by his sister, Jeanette Schneider of Redlands, California. Martin was preceded in death by his parents; Barbara (his beloved wife of 61 years); his brothers Ralph Haehn and Raymond Haehn, and his sisters Mildred Zahler and Evelyn Ortely.

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 or to Gentiva Hospice Foundation, 7801 Mesquite Bend Drive, Suite 105, Irving, Texas 75063.

The family extends deep appreciation to Gentiva Hospice for the compassionate help and assistance of the professional caregivers.

Services are entrusted to Swan Law Funeral Directors, Colorado Springs.