Michael Howard Haas, 76, of Hoxie, Kansas passed away Tuesday, December 15, 2020, at the Sheridan County Health Complex LTC . He was born on June 7, 1944, in Liberal, Kansas to Pete and Syble Haas. He spent his early elementary years in Hays, and then, his family moved to Russell when he started fourth grade. He graduated from Russell High School with the class of 1962.
Upon graduation, he attended two years at
Wentworth Military School in Lexington, Missouri. Following that, he
graduated from Fort Hays State University (FHSU). Following his
graduation from FHSU, he attended Washburn University where he obtained
his Law Degree. Through Washburn, he also was sworn into the United
States Supreme Court. While in Topeka, he met and married Carol Berthot
in Chanute, Kansas. Carol died of melanoma cancer in June, 1993. To
this union, three children were born, Shelley, Travis, and Tyler. On
October 15, 1994, Mike married his high school sweetheart, Margery
Haselhorst Brown in Dodge City, Kansas.
Upon graduation from Washburn University, he worked one year for
Kent Frizzell, Kansas Attorney General. After that, he and his wife
moved to Hoxie where he became affiliated with Joe Fromme’s Law
Practice; eventually, in the 1980’s he purchased the practice from Joe.
He was very proud of the fact that he ran for Sheridan County Attorney
in 1972 and won. He continued to win every election until he retired at
the end of 2013 because of declining health. He wasn’t the oldest
County Attorney in Kansas; but, he was the longest serving, continuously
elected County Attorney in the state at the time of his retirement.
Mike was an avid sports fan and inherited the love for Notre Dame
Football from his father. He also loved track and basketball. He
walked to work daily when weather permitted. He enjoyed weights and
jogging which he did on a daily basis. Eventually, he took up the game
of golf and spent time playing when he could sneak out of the office or
on weekends. He was a member of the St. Frances Cabrini Catholic
Church, Knights of Columbus, Hoxie Rotary Club and Hoxie Elks Lodge
#2415. Mike was the recipient of a Rotary Good Fellow Award. In the
late 1960’s and early 1970’s, Mike spent six years in the Army National
Guard.
Mike is survived by his wife, Margery; his children, Shelley Brown
(Travis) Goodland, Kansas, Travis Haas (Erica) Lawrence, Kansas, and
Tyler Haas (Jolene) Hays, Kansas; two stepsons, Steve Brown (Marlene)
Guymon, Oklahoma and Michael Brown of Spearville, Kansas; grandchildren,
Britney Whisnaut (Josh) US Army, Jacob and Derek Brown of Goodland,
Kansas, Kyra, Noah and Ian Haas of Lawrence, Kansas, Declan, Beckett and
Mila Haas of Hays, Kansas; Step-grandchildren, Kaleb, Sean and Kendall
Brown of Guymon, Oklahoma and Jay Brown of Spearville.
He was preceded in death by his parents Syble in 1998 and Pete in 2002.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, December 18, 2020,
11:00 A.M., at the St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church. Interment in the
St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Cemetery will immediately follow the
service. Visitation will be Thursday, December 17, 2020, noon to 6:30
P.M., with family receiving friends from 5:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M., all at
the Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to Open Spaces Sports and may be sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas 67740. Words of comfort may be left at mickeyleopoldfuneral.com.