Clarence Haase

STOUGHTON-Clarence Amon "Chuck" Haase, age 82, of Stoughton, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016. He was born on June 9, 1934, in a farmhouse in Woolstock, Iowa, the son of Glenn and Ruth Haase. He served in the U.S. Army in Lenggries, Germany, and Tokyo, Japan, where he met and married his late wife, Miyoshi, in 1959. Chuck enjoyed landscaping and woodworking, and made his livelihood as a handyman and carpenter. At his workshop in the old C.M. & St. P railroad depot in Stoughton, he crafted futon frames for 30 years for his friends at Right-On Futon in Chicago, and Rubin's Furniture in Madison. Chuck was always on-call for his neighbors and customers, and never let a severed fingertip or broken bone stop him from finishing a job. He was a jokester with a good heart who loved animals. His criterion for adopting from the shelter was "the one who has been here the longest." Chuck lived much of his life at great heights, painting on extension ladders, repairing the rooftops of multi-story buildings, and piloting or jumping from airplanes. He was an avid skydiver, making his first jump in 1987. A lifelong learner, he later enrolled in the Aviation Maintenance Technician Program at Blackhawk Technical College, and kept a small aircraft to work on in his Stoughton shop. He enjoyed attending auctions, and was a collector of military and political memorabilia, and antiquarian books and music. During his time in Japan, he was a supply sergeant for the Armed Forces Radio Service, and throughout his life, he loved collecting and sharing music, from Edison cylinders to CDs. He is survived by his daughters, Tamaki and Akemi both of Madison, and Kazuko of Tokyo, Japan; his nephews, Harlind, Jan, Ralph and David; his nieces, Glenda, Caryl, Cheryl and Debbie; many cousins; and his grandchildren, Kaito, Lisa and Peychen of Madison, and Gento, Hiroyuki, Chieko, Shinobu, and Naoto, of Japan; his cat, Maggie; and several great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his siblings, Lyle, John and Genevieve Shade; and his nephews, Al and Brian. A memorial service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Dr., Madison, at 1 p.m., on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016. Visitation will be held at the funeral home after the service until 4 p.m. on Sunday. Over the years, Chuck worked with many people who became extended family members. The family is very grateful for the friendship and support they provided to Chuck and to us. We would also like to express our gratitude to the staff of the Community Living Center and the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital.  Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420