LUSK – Charles Hiram Haase was born in Lusk on May 7, 1944, to Wilma and Alvin Haase. He was the second of seven children who grew up on a ranch and attended a one-room schoolhouse through the eighth grade. At the age of 14, Charlie moved to Torrington, WY and lived on his own to attend high school. There he met his future wife, Bonnie Norman, and they were married in 1964. Charlie attended Eastern Wyoming College, received an associate degree, and was later awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Charlie and Bonnie attended the University of Wyoming, where Charlie earned a degree in Electrical Engineering.
Charlie worked as an engineer for Control Data in Minnesota, Virginia, California, and ultimately settled in Colorado. He also served in the National Guard for six years. Charlie and Bonnie started their own business, Technical Marketing Manufacturers Inc. (TMMI) with offices in Lakewood, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah which they successfully ran for 23 years, until they retired in 1999.
Charlie and Bonnie have two daughters, Charla (Ken Eiken) and Valerie (Jason Koenig), and four grandchildren, Madeline and Julia Eiken, and Colton and Bailey Koenig. Charlie was a soccer coach, basketball coach, and involved with his family and community. He was a master of goofy dad jokes and rhyming puns. He was a great handyman, able to devise ingenius fixes for any problem, and was always happy to lend a hand to family, friends, and neighbors. Charlie loved to golf and was very active with Red Rocks Country Club since 1984. He was a member of Green Mountain United Methodist church and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. He was on the Willowbrook Water Board for 20 years, where he served as president for several years.
He leaves behind his wife of 58 years, daughters, and grandchildren. Charlie died from Lewy Body Dementia on June 24, 2023. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Porter Hospice Foundation (online rmahf.org/hospice, or by mail PO Box 913401, Denver CO 80291-3401. Please mention Charlie’s name in the comments for online donations).
Celebration of life service will be held at Pioneer Park in Torrington on September 9 at 1 p.m.
