Obit: Haigh, Owen Clarence (1921 - 2010)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surnames: Haigh, Buker, Dreson, Gregory, Nemitz, Kinnick, Buchanan, Claflin, Cheville, Seelow, Herdt 
 

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) April 7, 2010 
 

Haigh, Owen Clarence (11 June 1921 - 3 April 2010) With Flag 
 

Owen Haigh, 88, of Neillsville died Saturday, April 3, 2010, in the Palliative Care Unit of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield. 
 

Owen Clarence Haigh was born June 11, 1921, to Clarence and Edna Buker) Haigh in the Township of Warner, Clark County.  He graduated from Greenwood High School and served in World War II from 1942 to 1945 in the Army Air Corps as a gunner on a B-26 flying out of both England and France. 
 

Owen married Nancy Van Dreson June 28,1947.  They had one son, Clark. 
 

He was recalled to active duty in 1950 as a gunner instructor during the Korean action until 1951. 
 

He received his Bachelor’s degree from Eau Claire Teachers College and a Master’s degree from Winona State University, MN.  He then taught high school in Fall Creek, followed by Fairchild from 1955  to 1966.  He then taught at Neillsville Public Schools from 1966 until his retirement in 1988.  His first wife Nancy died in 1979.  He married Arlene (Gregory) Nemitz June 19, 1982. 
 

Owen was a lifetime member of the Haugen-Richmond American Legion Post 73, the Wilson-Heintz Veterans of Foreign War Post 2241, the 40 & 8.  He was also honored by the French government for his service in WWII.  Owen was a member of the United Methodist Church in Neillsville, the Merrillan Masonic Lodge 0279 and the Tripoli Shriners of Milwaukee.  He was also a longtime member of the Neillsville Kiwanis Club and a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association. 
 

Owen is survived by his wife, Arlene; a son, Clark Haigh of Seminole, FL; a stepson, Carl (Barbara) Nemitz of Neillsville and a stepdaughter Valerie (Warren) Kinnick of Neillsville; step-grandchildren, W. Wyatt Kinnick of Chili, Shane Kinnick of Edgerton, Melissa (Michael) Nemitz-Buchanan of Spencer, Carl R. (Heather) Nemitz of Ringle; and four step-great-grandchildren. 
 

Owen’s passions in life were teaching his grandchildren the fine art of hunting and fishing, telling old war stories and traveling with his wife on the back roads of the state, meeting new people and places. 
 

Funeral services for Owen will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 7, 2010, at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville.  Pastor Michael Herdt will officiate.  Interment will be in the Neillsville City Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Neillsville Veteran’s Council.  Visitation was from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Gesche Funeral Home with a 7:30 p.m. Masonic Lodge Service.  Visitation will also be held one hour before the service on Wednesday. 
 

Casketbearers are Wyatt and Shane Kinnick, Carl R. Nemitz, Bill W. Claflin, Jay Cheville and DeWayne Seelow. 
 

Online condolences may be made at www.GescheFH.com.  
 

The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Owen’s family with funeral arrangements.