In Memory of Steven Haas

Steve Haas, beloved son of William and Julie Haas, unexpectedly passed away in Las Vegas on May 30, 2023. He was born in Ames, Iowa on February 21, 1961.

Steve's educational journey took him through St. Cecilia grade school, Central Jr. High School and Ames High, where he graduated in 1979. During his time at Ames High, he excelled in wrestling and track, even earning the opportunity to compete in the 1978 Iowa State High School Wrestling Tournament. Despite a knee injury in the semi-final round, which prevented him from advancing to the championship, he ended up in 4th place.

After completing high school, Steve worked as a meat cutter at Save-U-More grocery store in Ames while also running his own tanning business on Main Street. Later, he relocated to Salida, Colorado, where he and his wife operated a small restaurant. Following a debilitating brain abscess, Steve underwent successful corrective surgery at the University of Iowa Hospitals. Subsequently, he moved to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, where he made a remarkable recovery with the support of Minnesota's State assistance programs and his education at St. Thomas University. There Steve completed an Accelerated Mini MBA in Non-Profit Development in 1996 and a short course in Electronic Commerce in 2002. Throughout the years, his lifelong friend Elsom Eldridge provided
invaluable guidance and mentorship.

Steve embarked on a flourishing career in the shipping industry that spanned over 25 years. He poured his heart and soul into his work, investing countless hours to build strong relationships with colleagues, coworkers, and clients. For Steve, merely having a roster of clients wasn't enough; he cultivated deep connections and associations with hundreds of clients.

Whenever Steve visited, he brought with him fabulous food, and his generosity extended to thoughtful and generous gift-giving. He had a genuine interest in listening and providing solutions to others. Steve thoroughly enjoyed engaging college students in conversations about e-commerce and the transportation and logistics industry. Making friends came naturally to Steve, whether it was a bellhop at a casino or a vast radio audience. He held a deep affection for his clients and the industry he served.

Steve had a remarkable talent for storytelling, captivating his audience with his animated and engaging narratives that transported listeners into the heart of the tale. Most of his stories were laced with humor, always aiming to bring laughter to those around him. Steve had a light-hearted and fun-loving nature, particularly enjoying the thrill of shooting off fireworks. His nieces and nephews affectionately referred to him as their "funcle." He delighted in sharing jokes, orchestrating endearing pranks, and had an impressive collection of awful Christmas sweaters. Furthermore, he was known to rally people together for various causes that united them in a common purpose.

Steve is survived by his daughter Kindra (Dave) Mahowald, his granddaughters Danielle, Abby, and Emma Mahowald, his parents Bill and Julie Haas, his brothers Mike (Rhonda), John (Deana), Mark (Cindy), his sister Joan (Greg) Wilson, and his nephews Will (Amber) Haas, Nate Wilson, and August Haas, as well as his nieces Mary (Kristof) Wüthrich and Lauren Wilson.

Family and friends of Steve are invited to gather and visit at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, located at 2900 Hoover Avenue, Ames, Iowa, beginning at 10 am on July 14, 2023. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am, followed by a light lunch in the Church Social Hall where cherished memories will be shared. A brief inurnment ceremony will take place at 2 pm at Ames Municipal Cemetery, located at 310 E 9th Street.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Steve’s memory may be sent to benefit the Annual Fund of the Shakopee Area Catholic School, located at: 2700 17th Avenue East, Shakopee, MN 55379. Internet address: https://www.sacsschools.org. This is the school Steve’s granddaughters attend.