Joseph William Haselby

Joseph William Haselby was born May 22, 1935, to Cloyne and Grace Haselby in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1957 with a BA in Political Science, and was a member of the championship swim team. He joined the Navy after graduating from college and became a fighter pilot, flying the F4 Phantom. He was hired by Pan Am airlines in 1963 and flew out of San Francisco until 1976, when he moved to Berlin, Germany to fly Pan Am’s internal German service. When Pan Am folded in 1991, he transitioned to Delta’s transatlantic service until his retirement in 2003.

Joe split his time between his Florida home and Berlin, having taken up golf seriously in the last 10 years. He is survived by his wife Ulla, a German woman, who was his companion for 38 years. A first marriage to Lois Gibbons ended in divorce in 1975, but a life-long friendship remained; he is survived by her and their two children: Mark Joseph, who lives in Whitefish, MT, and Alicia Herring, who resides in Fremont, CA. A brother, Ray, survives him in Marshfield, WI. Joe cherished spending Christmases with his maternal relatives, the families of Ken and Tracy Beebe in Jackson, MS, and Don and Leslie Cramb in Cincinnati, OH. He was also close to, and is survived by, his cousin Joan Lindquist of Jackson, MS.

Joe was a handy fellow, influenced by working at his father’s service station and growing up with time spent on the farms of Herd and Dale Haselby. He built a house in Tahoe, CA, and renovated his condo in Berlin. He was an avid reader with in-depth knowledge of politics, culture and technology. Joe touched many lives in a loving and positive way, and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

He died in Berlin on July 23, 2014, of acute heart complications following surgery for a pancreatic mass. He was 79 years old.

He will be interred on October 20, 2014, at 11:00 AM at Indian Creek Presbyterian Cemetery, 8318-8998 N County Road 275 W, Lucerne, IN, 46950. Arrangements are by Harrison-Metzger & Rans Funeral Homes, 304 S. Chicago Street, Royal Center, IN, 46978; phone: (574) 643-2265; website: www.ransfuneralhomes.com