Joe Haeggquist

Joseph (Joe) Bradley Haeggquist, age 83, passed away in his home in Cookson, Oklahoma on Monday, April 24, 2023. Joe was born in Davenport, Iowa on January 14, 1940. He lived in Moline, Illinois until the age of five, grew up in Topanga Canyon, California then lived in Los Angeles before moving to Cookson with his wife and children in 1972. In 2002, he retired from Holley Special Products Division of Colt Industries in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, where his last position was as a forklift driver.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife Sharon Lynne (Moore) Haeggquist; his parents, Sherman Haeggquist and Henrietta (Bradley) Haeggquist of Cave Creek, Arizona; his brother, Allen Haeggquist of Scottsdale, Arizona; and his grandson, Joseph (Joe) Haeggquist of Vidor, Texas.

Joe is survived by his sister, Kathy Morris and her husband Bill of Camarillo, California; Joe’s children are Bradley (Brad) Haeggquist, his wife Shellie of Vidor, Texas and Cynthia (Cindy) (Haeggquist) Downs of Bixby, Oklahoma. He is survived by great grandchildren, Henrietta and Campbell Haeggquist of Richmond, Virginia. He is survived by the following grandchildren and great grandchildren of Vidor, Texas: Tracy (Haeggquist) Maines and her husband Travis and their children, Drew, Nyah and Devan; Andrew Haeggquist and his wife, Chelsea and their children, Sage, Sianna and Spencer; Joshua Bradley Haeggquist and his wife Lacey and their daughter Daisy. He is survived by Jake Downs and his wife, Gabi of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Hannah Atkins and her husband David and their son Wyatt of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is survived by the following grandchildren and great grandchildren of Bixby, Oklahoma: Heath Downs and his wife Stephanie and their daughter, Wakely; Hilary and her husband Nic and their daughter Ada. He is also survived by numerous, cousins, nephews, and nieces whom he loved dearly.

Joe was a man of Faith, but not organized religion. Joe delighted in visiting with his family and friends. He was thrifty with his own needs, but extremely generous to his family. He gave excellent advice and loved making others laugh. He was still in regular contact with friends made in Boy Scout Troop 102, Canoga Park High School, Topanga Canyon and friends Charlie Bertalot and Eddie Dukes that he made during his competitive running events during his forties and fifties.

He enjoyed OU football, spirited conversations about politics, family genealogy, writing an occasional poem and drawing weekly cartoons for his great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He rarely sent a birthday card to anyone that he didn’t customize with a cartoon or funny joke. He grew to love his cats that somehow found and adopted him. He named his first cat, “Mouse”. He had varied tastes in entertainment which included Dixieland jazz, the Statler Brothers, Irish Folk songs, George Carlin, Laurel and Hardy films and silent movies.

He gave the family the Haeggquist gift of love as well as Haeggquist gift of confidence in ourselves, knowledge and abilities. He taught us that there is nothing we can’t accomplish with enough hard work and a plan. We will miss his sense of humor and opinions, but most of all, the unlimited love he shared with us all.

The family thanks everyone for your gifts of loving support, flowers, food, travel, encouragement, and memories you shared as we all grieve the loss of Joe Haeggquist.

A memorial service for Joe will be held Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 3:00 PM at Reed-Culver Funeral Home, 117 West Delaware Street, Tahlequah, Oklahoma 74464.

Honorary pallbearers for Joe include Andy Haeggquist, Joshua Bradley Haeggquist, Travis Maines, Drew Maines, Devan Maines, Jake Downs, Heath Downs, Nic Penrod, David Atkins, and Wyatt Atkins.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.reedculver.com for the Haeggquist family.