Paul A. Haeder, 96, of Lincoln, passed away on Saturday, December 3, 2011. He was a retired professor of mathematics at the University of Nebraska Omaha and University of South Dakota. He was born to German immigrants in Yale, S.D. on July 31, 1915, the second of eight children. He married the love of his life, Phyllis Reisenweber, on June 23, 1939 in Britton, S.D. He graduated from Huron College in 1939 and received his masters degree from the University of South Dakota in 1952. He completed his Ph.D. from Iowa State University in 1968.
His greatest joy was his family. He loved sending birthday greetings to his children and grandchildren and their spouses and to each great-grandchild. He loved his South Dakota farm background, church music, sports and the trees in Lincoln. He had an outstanding memory and knowledge of history, and he delighted family and friends with stories of his interesting life.
Paul was a W.W.II veteran of the U.S Navy. He received UNO’s Great Teacher Award in 1980. He served as president of Lutheran Men of Omaha and the West Omaha Lion’s Club. Throughout his life, he was an active member of the Lutheran Church and he was a current member of Sheridan Lutheran Church. Paul had a wonderful life, richly blessed by his family and his faith.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis, his daughter, Rosalie Hootman, and by his parents, Richard and Emma Haeder, and brothers and sisters Otto, Gerda (DuBois), Richard, Hugo and Esther (Jungemann). He is survived by children, Allison (Marty) Winaker, Walnut Creek, Calif., Bill (Linda) Haeder, Rockwell City, Iowa and Paula (Matt) Metcalf, Lincoln, and by his son-in-law and wife, Joe and LaVonne Hootman, of Grand Forks, N.D. Paul is also survived by his eight grandchildren: Jeff Winaker, Sara Winaker Kiehn, Joseph Hootman, Janine Hootman Wilke, Amy Haeder Dettmer, Adam Haeder, Meredith Metcalf and Allie Metcalf Crummy; by 18 great grandchildren (with #19 due in March), by his sister Hilda Ulrich of Sioux Falls, S.D., brother Robert Haeder of Huron, S.D. and by a large extended family and many friends.
Celebration of life service: 11 a.m. Thursday, December 8, 2011, at Sheridan Lutheran Church, 6955 Old Cheney Rd.
Visitation 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at Roper and Sons, 4300 ‘O’ Street.
Family suggests memorials to Sheridan Lutheran Church or Lincoln Community Foundation.