William Charles Haas, Sr.

William Charles Haas Sr., 89, of Savanna, IL, passed away on January 3, 2026, at OSF St. Anthony’s Hospital in Rockford. Cremation rites will be accorded and interment will take place at Lower York Cemetery, in Thomson, IL.

William, or “Bill” as most knew him, was born on February 7, 1936, in Savanna to Marion and Gladys (Shelly) Poorman. He attended elementary school in Savanna before attending Thomson High School. Shortly after, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving his country honorably from 1954 to 1956. Upon returning home, Bill began farming for a local farmer; work that would remain a steady thread throughout his life. Farming was never just a job to him; it was a way of life he returned to again and again.

On October 25, 1958, Bill married the love of his life, Virginia Flies in Hanover, IL and together, they had three children raising them in Thomson, IL. He spent 17 years working for International Paper before continuing his career as a maintenance mechanic at American Xyrofin, where he retired in 2000. His knack for fixing just about anything made him a valued coworker and a go‑to problem solver.

Retirement didn’t slow him down. Bill loved keeping horses on the farm and took pride in his garden and yard. He could often be found tending to his plants, caring for his bees, or happily pushing dirt around the property with his bulldozer. A lifelong tinkerer, he enjoyed attending auctions. And like any tinkerer, this led to a tendency to collect a bit more than he needed.

In his later years, Bill was blessed with grandchildren, whom he adored. They were the light of his life, and he cherished every moment spent with them. Bill is survived by his wife of 67 years, Virginia; daughter, Betty Jo (Jorge) Haas, of Clinton, IA; sons, William Haas, Jr., of Hawaii and Robert (Andrea) Haas, of Thomson; two grandchildren, Jessica Jo Haas and Amanda Sue Haas and three great-grandchildren. Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Marion and Gladys; and siblings, Glenn, Helen, Herb, Katherine, Jen, Robert, Anne, Jim, and Jack.

A celebration of life will be held from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 10, 2026 at Law Jones Funeral Home in Thomson, Illinois with Military Honors at 11:00 a.m.