John M Haugan

John M. Haugan, 90, of La Crescent, died on Friday, May 30, 2014 at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center. He was born on May 26, 1924 in rural Galesburg, ND to Ivar and Oline (Olstad) Haugan. Faith, family and friends best sum up Johns life. After graduating from Portland High School John enlisted in the US Army and fought in the Battle of the Bulge during WWII. After returning from the war he married Marjorie Moen and began his career in education. One of his first teaching positions was at Oak Grove High School in Fargo, ND, where he coached the basketball team to the state finals. John also worked as an elementary principal in West Fargo for ten years and as elementary principal in La Crescent, MN for twenty years.

He is survived by his children and grandchildren, DiAnn (Stephen) Johnson of La Crescent, MN and their children, Stephani (Craig) Sundry and Michael (Heidi) Johnson, John D. (Roberta) Haugan of La Crescent and their children, Karn (Mark) Schwartzhoff, Robyn (Neal) McCullough, and Caitlin Haugan, Steven (Patricia) Haugan of Wimauma, FL and their children, Nichole Gurevitch, Lindsey (William) Nussbaum, and Samantha Haugan, and Susan (Michael) Christianson of Onalaska, WI and their daughter Amanda Christianson, and sixteen great-grandchildren, a brother Donavan (Barbara) Haugan of Oklahoma City, OK and a sister Barbara (Jim) Wheeler of Moorhead, MN. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, his wife of 65 years and his best friend of 70 years, Marjorie, and his parents.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 4th, 2014 at 11:00 AM at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, La Crescent. Pastor Mike Woods will officiate. Burial with Military Honors by the Gittens-Leidel American Legion Post 595 will be in the Prospect Hill Cemetery, La Crescent. Friends may call at the church on Tuesday from 4:00 7:00 PM and again on Wednesday from 10:00 AM until the time of services. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the La Crescent Area Food Shelf or the Gittens-Leidel American Legion Post 595, La Crescent.

Johns family would like to thank the staff at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center and all the wonderful family and friends who helped him celebrate his 90th birthday.