Donald "Don" R. Haas

Donald R. Haas, 69, of Meadville, Pennsylvania passed away of natural causes on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at St. Vincent Health System, Erie.
 
Don was born in Titusville, on October 29, 1948, a son of the late Robert F. and Elizabeth (Wallace)  Haas.
 
On March 11, 2017 Don married  the joy of his life, Becky Jagoda; she survives.
 
He was a member of Meadville Alliance Church.
 
For the past several years Don spent the winter months following his passion for skiing as a Level I ski instructor at Steamboat Springs, CO and Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville, NY.  He loved promoting the resorts and instructing both adults as well as children.  In the summer months he worked at Oakland Beach Golf Course.
 
In 2010 Don retired from the plastic manufacturing career with more than 30 years of experience in production, quality control, management, program development and employee training.  Over the years he was employed by Graham Packaging Company in Bedford, Amcor PET Packaging in Ft. Worth, TX, Tech Tool and Molded Plastics in Meadville, Plastek Industries in Erie, Continental PET Technologies in Toledo, OH and Owens-Brockway Closures & Specialty Products, Inc. in Erie.  Prior to his career in plastic manufacturing, Don was employed as a teacher in the Titusville School District teaching math at the high school and also as an elementary school teacher.  A graduate of Edinboro University, Don earned his Bachelor Degrees in Elementary Education and Secondary Education before going on to earn his Master's Degree in Education.
 
On the professional level, Don was a member of the American Society for Quality, the Association for Manufacturing Excellence and the Society of Plastics Engineers.  He was also a member of Black Ash Sportmans Club, Saegertown Area Sportsmans Club, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and the US Golf Association.
 
An avid outdoorsman, Don loved down hill skiing, bird hunting with his buddy, Tory, fishing, trap shooting, golfing and in his younger years boating and water skiing.   He enjoyed teaching others how to trap shoot. Don was full of life and will be sadly missed.
 
In addition to his wife, Becky, Don is survived by two step children Tina Zdarko and Billy Zdarko, both of Little Rock, AR,  two step grandchildren Mallory Getty Hicks and her husband Jesse, and Ryan Getty, his sister Debbie Spence and her husband Wayde, his aunt Patricia A. Wallace, both of Meadville, his nephew Adam McKee of Wenatchee, WA, and his beloved dog Tory.
 
In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by a brother David B. Haas.
 
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 12:00 PM on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at Meadville Alliance Church, 660 N. Main St., Meadville, with Rev. Jeffrey Conley, Pastor, officiating.
 
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, 5705 Grant Creek Rd., Missoula, MT  59808, Black Ash Sportsman Club, 8410 Clark Road, Guys Mills, PA  16327 or any animal rescue foundation.
 
Arrangements are under the direction of STEPHEN P. MIZNER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 404 CHESTNUT ST., MEADVILLE.
 
Share a memory or condolence at www.miznerfuneralhome.com