Colonel Ralph C. Haines age 92, of Arcadia, WI died Tuesday December 30, 2014, at Mayo Clinic Health System Oakridge Facility in Osseo, WI.
He was born on July 26, 1922, to Ralph Sr. and Anna (Kronschnabl) Haines in Arcadia, WI. He graduated from High School in 1940. In 1942, he was accepted in the Aviation Cadet Program for serving in the Army Air Corps. Completing preflight training, he attended aerial flexible gunnery school and advanced bombardier school. After completing bombardier school in 1943, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and was assigned to a B-24 Liberator Bomber with the 409th Bomb Group, 850th Squadron.
Upon arrival in England in early May 1944, his squadron was reassigned to the 801st Provisional Group for combat operations with the 8th Air Force. He completed 35 combat missions in December of 1944 and returned to the United States in February 1945.
On March 21st, 1945, he married his fiancée Eunice Sendelbach at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Waumandee, WI.
In 1947, Ralph joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard and served in Infantry, Armor and Engineer Units. In May of 1974, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and retired in May of 1979.
He was a graduate of the Infantry Officer Carrier Course at Ft. Benning Georgia, The Special Armored Calvary Course at Ft. Knox, Kentucky and the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.
Among his many awards and decorations he received during World War II ,was the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the European, African, and Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 Battle Stars for Normandy, Northern France and Germany, and the French Legion of Honor.
After retirement, he served 11 years on the Arcadia Country Club Board of Directors as president for 4 years, the City of Arcadia Utility Commission for 13 years, a member of the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion Post 17.
Ralph and Eunice enjoyed family and friends, golf and traveling especially to his annual WWII Bomb Group Reunions.
Ralph is survived by his wife Eunice of Arcadia, a son Richard (Loretta) Haines of Garden Plain, KS, 2 daughters; Lisa (Larry) Sonsalla of Trempealeau, WI and Lynne (Joseph) Emert of Fairchild, WI, a son-in - law,Terry Otzelberger; 11 grandchildren, Susan Bauer, Christine Pappas, Traci Leigh, Daniel Haines, Kristin MaCabe, Eric Sonsalla, Stefanie Sonsalla, Kelly Kostner, Dana Sonsalla, Alyssa Emert and Jason Emert; 12 great grandchildren; 2 brothers; Jack (Mary) Haines of Arcadia and Roland (Sharon) Haines of Arcadia.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Corrine Otzelberger, and a sister Ann Marie Haines.
A Memorial Service will be held 11:00 AM Tuesday January 6, 2015, at Holy Family Parish in Arcadia, WI Rev. Sebastian Kolodziejczyk will officiate. Burial with full military honors will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00PM - 7:00 PM Monday January 5, 2015, at Holy Family Parish with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM, and from 10:00 AM until services at the church on Tuesday.
223 Maple Street
Arcadia, WI 54612
223 Maple Street
Arcadia, WI 54612
223 Maple Street
Arcadia, WI 54612
223 Maple Street
Arcadia, WI 54612
County Road J
Arcadia, WI 54612
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He was born on July 26, 1922, to Ralph Sr. and Anna (Kronschnabl) Haines in Arcadia, WI. He graduated from High School in 1940. In 1942, he was accepted in the Aviation Cadet Program for serving in the Army Air Corps. Completing preflight training, he attended aerial flexible gunnery school and advanced bombardier school. After completing bombardier school in 1943, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and was assigned to a B-24 Liberator Bomber with the 409th Bomb Group, 850th Squadron.
Upon arrival in England in early May 1944, his squadron was reassigned to the 801st Provisional Group for combat operations with the 8th Air Force. He completed 35 combat missions in December of 1944 and returned to the United States in February 1945.
On March 21st, 1945, he married his fiancée Eunice Sendelbach at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Waumandee, WI.
In 1947, Ralph joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard and served in Infantry, Armor and Engineer Units. In May of 1974, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and retired in May of 1979.
He was a graduate of the Infantry Officer Carrier Course at Ft. Benning Georgia, The Special Armored Calvary Course at Ft. Knox, Kentucky and the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.
Among his many awards and decorations he received during World War II ,was the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the European, African, and Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 Battle Stars for Normandy, Northern France and Germany, and the French Legion of Honor.
After retirement, he served 11 years on the Arcadia Country Club Board of Directors as president for 4 years, the City of Arcadia Utility Commission for 13 years, a member of the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion Post 17.
Ralph and Eunice enjoyed family and friends, golf and traveling especially to his annual WWII Bomb Group Reunions.
Ralph is survived by his wife Eunice of Arcadia, a son Richard (Loretta) Haines of Garden Plain, KS, 2 daughters; Lisa (Larry) Sonsalla of Trempealeau, WI and Lynne (Joseph) Emert of Fairchild, WI, a son-in - law,Terry Otzelberger; 11 grandchildren, Susan Bauer, Christine Pappas, Traci Leigh, Daniel Haines, Kristin MaCabe, Eric Sonsalla, Stefanie Sonsalla, Kelly Kostner, Dana Sonsalla, Alyssa Emert and Jason Emert; 12 great grandchildren; 2 brothers; Jack (Mary) Haines of Arcadia and Roland (Sharon) Haines of Arcadia.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Corrine Otzelberger, and a sister Ann Marie Haines.
A Memorial Service will be held 11:00 AM Tuesday January 6, 2015, at Holy Family Parish in Arcadia, WI Rev. Sebastian Kolodziejczyk will officiate. Burial with full military honors will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00PM - 7:00 PM Monday January 5, 2015, at Holy Family Parish with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM, and from 10:00 AM until services at the church on Tuesday.
Visitation
JAN 5. 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM (CST)
Holy Family Parish223 Maple Street
Arcadia, WI 54612
Public Prayer Service
JAN 5. 7:00 PM (CST)
Holy Family Parish223 Maple Street
Arcadia, WI 54612
Visitation
JAN 6. 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (CST)
Holy Family Parish223 Maple Street
Arcadia, WI 54612
Memorial Service
JAN 6. 11:00 AM (CST)
Holy Family Parish223 Maple Street
Arcadia, WI 54612
Graveside Service
JAN 6. 12:15 PM (CST)
Calvary CemeteryCounty Road J
Arcadia, WI 54612
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