Loel Haak

Loel Gene Haak, 77, of Sun City, Az passed away on January 25, 2016. Loel was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1938 to Pastor William and Doris Haak. Loel grew up in the midwest with his four younger siblings and enjoyed playing baseball and basketball. He attended Concordia College in Fort Wayne, In. and graduated from the Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Mo. Loel faithfully served God as a minister throughout his life, first as a vicar at Redeemer Lutheran in Lincoln, Ne. where he was blessed with the introduction to one Annemarie Pfeffer. They would marry in 1963. He was then assigned as Missionary-at-Large serving the fledgling congregation at St. Mark in Phoenix, Az. Seven years, and three daughters later, he began a ten-year ministry as Associate Pastor at Hope Lutheran in Seattle, Wa. At Hope, Loel's spiritual leadership touched the lives of the young and old alike where he served on the Board of Directors at Seattle Lutheran High School and the local retirement community center. He began to build a long resume of Lutheran clinical and committee service punctuated by the Evangelism Explosion Ministry clinics. He and Annemarie added a son to the family. The Lord next called Loel to lead the congregation at Christ the Redeemer in Phoenix, Az. where he served from 1981 to 2002. Loel continued in his quest to share the gospel, authoring service programs, counseling those in need, teaching, visiting the sick, and serving in countless other capacities, including Circuit Counselor of eight district congregations, and on the Board of Directors at Valley Lutheran High School. He also ministered to his own spiritual growth, earning a Doctorate in Ministry from Fuller Seminary in 1996. After retiring at Christ the Redeemer, Loel's career came full circle, when he acted as an interim minister back at St. Mark. He would continue to help churches find new pastors in Washington, Oregon and Nevada, with the ever faithful Annemarie always at his side. Finally, Loel was blessed to rejoin many of his former parishioners when he served as a Senior Pastor at Life in Christ in Phoenix. When not busy with the church and family, Loel enjoyed golf, cards, fishing, reading and watching sports. He is loved and remembered for his patience and humility, his gentle spirit and kind heart, and his commitment to family and his God. Loel is survived by his wife, Annemarie (Pfeffer) Haak, his children, Sarah Willis (Eric), Miriam Vaughn (Paul), Julia Doerr (Cary) and Lucas Haak and seven grandchildren Micah and Noah Willis, Karlee and Naomi Vaughn and Grant, Gratia and Gavin Doerr, and his four siblings Sandy, David, Diane and Barry. Viewing: Friday, Jan. 29 5:00 - 8:00 pm Menke Funeral & Cremation Center, 12420 North 103rd Avenue, Sun City. Graveside Committal: Saturday, Jan. 30, 10:00 am Resthaven Park Cemetery, 6450 West Northern Ave. Glendale. Memorial Service: Saturday, Jan. 30 1:00 pm. Life in Christ Lutheran Church, 14802 North 75th Ave. Peoria. In lieu of flowers, please make any contributions to the Alzheimer's Association or Life in Christ Lutheran Church.