Ronald John M. Haynes

A soldier has fallen and we have lost an incredible and irreplaceable part of our lives. He was an original, one of a kind man and will be missed. On February 17, 2011, Ronald M. ""John"" Haynes age 85 of Long Lake Cloverdale, went to meet his Savior, Jesus. \r
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John was born on December 15, 1925, to Ronald and Catherine (Bechtel) Haynes, living south of Hastings on farms most of his boyhood, raising Oxford sheep. He attended and graduated Hastings High School in 1943. At 17, on a dare from his buddies, he joined the U.S. Marine Corp. John fought on Guam and Iwo Jima as a machine gunner and munitions carrier. He helped take Mt. Suribachi and was there when they raised the flag both times. \r
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He returned to Hastings after his discharge, met and married the love of his life, Clara Teresa Zimmerman and they raised four children, giving them his sense of humor, duty love of music and hope in the Lord. \r
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During his life John drove a truck, owned a truck stop, owned a punch-board, pin ball machine route, but mostly was always a salesman. He worked for Montgomery Wards, Norwest, Grand Valley Distributing, honing his skills and natural talents to open his own wholesale plumbing and heating company, Haynes Supply Company with his wife, Clara. They operated this company, with the help of the children for 20 years, retiring in 1979. He and Clara retired to Long Lake in Cloverdale, MI and to Bradenton, Fl. in the winters. \r
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His keen sense of humor he used in his music, playing and singing his guitar in his self-taught way. Mule train was one of his greats. John also played his guitar for the St. Rose prayer group. He was a member of AA for 48 years which he was very proud of. \r
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Golf, hitting several holes in one over the years, kept him young as did the long 11 miles walks he took every day. He collected pop bottles along the way and considered it a great day if it would by his breakfast at McDonald's that day. He was very thrifty. \r
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John loved fishing, raising a garden, horses and just being with his wife and kids. He was preceded in death by his dad and mom, Clara his wife of 59 years when she passed away in 2009, Janet Haynes, niece and Patty Haynes, niece and great friend Bill Taffee. \r
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He is survived by his much loved and older brother, Jerry (Illy ) Haynes of Aurora, CO, Nephew, Mike (Jean) Haynes of Louisville, CO and Carol (Greg) Peterson of Loveland, CO.\r
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His children Pam Haynes of Ocala, FL, Cindy (Jim) Cary of Hastings, John (Terri) Haynes of Glen Allen, VA, Jim Haynes of Hastings, and Crissy Clawson, of Middleville. grandchildren Stephen and Seth Haynes, Deb (Tim) Short, Br. Samuel Cary, L.C.\r
Staff Sgt. Daniel (Mari) Cary, Jacob (Katie) Cary, and Joseph Cary.\r
great grandchildren include Jamison Lesick, Clayton, Noah, Isaiah Short, Ethan Kendall and Camden Cary. \r
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Memorial contributions can be to the St. Rose Education fund.\r
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Visitation will be held 6 to 8pm Tuesday with a rosary at the Girrbach Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday February 23, 2011 at 11:00am at St Rose Of Lima Catholic Church in Hastings, with Fr. Richard Altine Celebrant. Burial with full military honors will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at St.Rose. Arrangements are by the Girrbach Funeral Home in Hastings. Please visit our website to leave a message or memory to the family (girrbachfuneralhome.net).\r
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