Obit: Haavisto, Adolph (19 December 1905 - 5 March 1974)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Haavisto

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 3/07/1974

Haavisto, Adolph (? - 5 March 1974)

The former police chief of Owen died Tuesday afternoon of heart attack while teaching a self defense course for employees of the Clark County Hospital and home in Owen.

Dead is Adolph Haavisto, 68, who served the city of Owen as chief for 22 years, retired in 1968.

Survived by his wife, Marion, Haavisto was a professional wrestler in earlier years of his life and was known as the “Flying Finn” in the upper Midwestern circuit, including fairs and carnivals in Clark County.

No arrangements had been announced at press time for Haavisto, who was also a deputy sheriff for the county prior to his death.

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Obit: Haavisto, Adolph K. #2 (1905 - 1974)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Haavisto, Schiefer, Hasek, Simon, Roberts, Strand, Sullivan

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 3/14/1974

Haavisto, Adolph K. (19 December 1905 - 5 March 1974)

Funeral services were held in Owen Friday for Adolph K. Haavisto, 68, former professional wrestler and police chief of Owen. He died of a heart attack about 2:15 p.m. March 5 while instructing orderlies at the Clark County Hospital in self-defense. Services were conducted by the Rev. Robert Sullivan of Nazareth Lutheran Church, Withee. Burial was made in Riverside Cemetery there.

Mr. Haavisto was born December 19, 1905, in Ely, MN. he came to Owen with the family when a youth and was graduated from Owen High School in 1924. For several years he followed the circuit in North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. He was also credited with originating the Owen Youth Fair wrestling matches and supervised them for several years.

From 1938 to 1943 he farmed in the Town of Longwood and then moved to Madison, where he remained until 1946, when he returned to Owen and took the position of police chief, which he held until his retirement in 1968. Following his retirement, Mr. Haavisto moved to Floodwood, Mn, where he worked part time as a police officer until 1972, when he returned to Owen.

Mr. Haavisto is survived by his wife, the former Marion Schiefer; his mother, Mrs. John (Hilja) Haavisto of Owen; four sisters: Mrs. George (Laura) Hasek of La Mesa, Ca., Mrs. Helen Simon of Owen, Mrs. Alma Roberts of Madison, and Mrs. William (Laina) Strand of San Diego, Ca.; and by two brothers, Albert and Eino, both of Owen.

Owen Basketball Team (1925)