BENSON -- Virgil M. Haase, 74, of 126 Route 116 East, Benson, died at 6:20 p.m. Wednesday (April 6, 2005) at his residence, with family by his side after a 3 1/2 year battle with cancer.
He was born on Sept. 21, 1930, in Benson, to Victor and Marie Johnson Haase. He married Norma Gutherz on July 3, 1955, in Benson. She survives.
Also surviving are two daughters, Jane (Dennis) Marshall and Joline Haase, both of Benson; two grandsons, Jared and Justin Marshall; two brothers, Lloyd (Angie) Haas, Benson; and Dewayne Haase, Roanoke; and one sister, Virginia (Milford) Baumann, Benson.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Calvin Haase.
A Marine Corps veteran, Virgil served his country during the Korean War. He was a member of the Benson American Legion Post 454, where he served as commander in the past.
Virgil worked for Caterpillar for 42 years before he retired in 1989.
He was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Benson, where he had served on the church council.
His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Benson. The Rev. Anne Strickert will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Knapp-Johnson-Harris Funeral Home in Roanoke, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Clayton Township Cemetery, with military rites conducted by Benson American Legion Post 454.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church or to the Benson Ambulance.