John “Honest John” Haita

Passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Friday, October 25, 2019. Age 85. Cherished husband of Mary (nee Krikorian), for 61 years. Loving father of Yerchanik “Happy” (Daniel) Bartes, Vartwee “Tania” Venhaus, Avedis “Butch” (Linda) Haita, and John (Carla) Haita Jr. Proud grandfather of Matthew (Ashley), Jacob (Danae), Joshua, Amanda, Brielle, Nadalia, and Nino. Great-grandfather of Grace, Nora, Logan (angel in Heaven), Wyatt, and Evan. Also loved by nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

John graduated from West Allis Central and was awarded an all-state football. He proudly served as a sergeant in the 1st Marine Division, 1st Tank Battalion, Charlie Company, during the Korean War. He then attended college and attained his bachelor’s degree in business management.  He was the proud owner and operator of John Spur/John 66 Service for 45 years along with his wife, Mary, in Hales Corners. John instilled a strong work ethic with many of his employees throughout the years. He was a classic car enthusiast and collector.  John followed in his father’s footsteps, by being a lifelong member in the Armenian church. He loved his family deeply and took pride in providing for them.  John was well respected and involved in the Hales Corners community. He will be dearly missed by all.

Visitation at Krause Funeral Home, 12401 West National Avenue, New Berlin, on Friday, November 1, 2019, from 4:00 PM-6:45 PM. Prayer service 7:00 PM. (Since John was always a casual dresser, please feel free to dress comfortably.) Additional visitation at St. John the Baptist Armenian Orthodox Church, 7825 West Layton Avenue, on Saturday, November 2, 2019, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM. Funeral mass at 10:30 AM. Burial at Good Hope Cemetery. A special thank you to the staff at Clement J. Zablocki VAMC.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Mary Haita for her in-home care management.

There is an old Armenian proverb that states: Լավություն արա, ջուրը գցի. ձուկը չիմանա` Աստված կիմանա (Lavootiun ara joore ghci, dzuke chimana, Astvats kimana), or in English – “Do goodness and cast onto the waters. Even if the fish won’t know, God will.” As I sit and reflect on the life my grandfather, John Haita, lived; I can’t help but think how fitting this proverb is to the way my grandfather lived his life.

John Haita was born on December 13, 1933. The son of an Armenian refugee who fled the Armenian Genocide and associated atrocities committed by the Turks, to ultimately become a barber in the then small town of West Allis, Wisconsin. The family was very poor and struggled mightily just to get by. This will to survive would aid my grandfather as he enlisted into the United States Marine Corps and fought proudly for our country as a tank commander in the Korean War. Grandpa’s time in the Marines taught him the values of discipline, hard work, service, and doing one’s duty. It was these values that he strived to instill in his own children, as well as his grandchildren.

My grandfather was a charitable man; however, it was not until I became an adult, with a family and full-time job of my own, did I truly understand that there were many ways in which one could not only be charitable, but also a teacher. I can recall several instances growing up seeing people reach out to my grandfather for assistance, only to see him offer up what I interpreted then as a “lecture”. Now, as I look back on those events, I can see that my grandfather was not lecturing but teaching. He was trying to help that person see the big picture, and that instant satisfaction was not always the solution to the problem. You had to work for it, you had to earn it, there are no free rides in this world.

“Do goodness and cast onto the waters. Even if the fish won’t know, God will.” God did indeed know the goodness that you were doing all these years Grandpa; and it is only through your loss that your “fish” now see. I love you Grandpa John and thank you for that final lesson. God bless, and rest in everlasting peace.