Carol G. Haasch

Carol G. Haasch, Red Hat lady, percussionist, retired Holt elementary school teacher, lover of traveling adventures, great card player, volunteer, and good friend to so many, passed away on Sunday, June 13, 2021. Carol was born on December 23, 1934, in the Upper Peninsula community of Newberry, MI to the late Ida and Jesse Shepherd. Mother to son Harry ‘Hap’ Haasch (Sue), daughter Kathryn ‘Sue’ Carpenter (Kim), grandmother to four grandchildren, Colin Carpenter, Kelsey Rizer (Will), Haley and Shannon Haasch, and sister to Donald ‘PeeWee’ Shepherd (Linda), she was preceded in death by brother Bob and husband Harry T. Haasch (2016), who referred to Carol as ‘Shep’. This was a family of nicknames. After graduating from Newberry High School in 1956 Carol made her first trip to the lower peninsula of Michigan on a train where she ventured with her trunk of belongings to Eastern Michigan College. It was there she studied education and met Harry, a native of Menominee, MI. Carol, Harry, ‘Hap’ and ‘Susie’ lived in Flint and Jackson before settling in Holt in 1974 where Carol began teaching in the Holt school system.

Carol’s greatest joy in life was being with dear friends, family and traveling. She would tell you she put these things well ahead of housework with no regrets. She stayed very active all of her life, enjoying the orchestra, Wharton shows, music in the park, bird watching, playing in the MSU Community Band, playing rounds and rounds of bridge and sipping wine with friends on the deck. She loved playing games and often pretended she’d forgotten the rules of Euchre but somehow would suddenly “remember” when she’d win the round.

Well into her 80’s, she met the wonderful late Ron Pearce and enjoyed daily adventures with him; walks at Valhalla Park, pulling his camper trailer north, visiting some of Michigan’s beautiful sites and airstrips, and even spending a month together wintering in Florida. She felt very lucky to have been able to share so many fun times with Ron in the later years of their lives.

Carol had many enduring friendships in the Holt area and beyond. The family would like to thank you for your love and support especially through the last months: Agnes, Betty, Christine, Debbie, Diana, Diane, Esther, Joan, Marilyn Mary, MaryAnn, Sue and so many others – your presence warmed her heart. We heard her say many times before she passed that she “had a great life and felt so lucky.”

Please join us for a celebration of Carol’s life on Wednesday, June 30^th, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Hidden Gem Event Venue (formerly Charlar Place), in Holt. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her honor to the American Cancer Society, National Audubon Society, or the Michigan Historical Society. Arrangements are by the Estes-Leadley Holt/Delhi Chapel.