He was born in Germany on August 13, 1925. Mr. Haag immigrated to the United States in June of 1953, arriving in New York City with his wife and two eldest sons, aboard the passenger ship S/S United States. The Haag family entered the country through Ellis Island, and were one of the last families to enter this famed immigrant gateway before it was closed in 1954. Tony Haag, as he was known in his new country, sought a better life for his family in the land of opportunity. He arrived with very little money, not speaking English, and succeeded in becoming a productive member of this new society and fulfilling his dream of providing a prosperous life for his family. He valued education and learning; he attended evening school shortly after his arrival in the US and promptly learned the English language and American culture.
Tony settled in the New York City area, and worked as a general foreman for the George Hantscho Company for 35 years. He took great pride in his work and in his family. He often stated that his wife and life partner, Theresa, ensured his success. He was an active family man, and he was very proud of the achievements of his sons. In his retirement, Tony lavished love, time and attention on his granddaughters. They gave him immense joy, happiness, and a sense of fulfillment in his golden years. He attended their school and sports functions and loved spending time with them – be it reading stories, teaching them to swim and ride their bikes, or going for winter walks in the snow.
Tony moved to Troy in 1987 after his retirement. He enjoyed outdoor activities, the local community, and the scenic beauty of the area. He was an active member of Immaculate Conception parish and of the Troy Senior Center.
Tony was a WWII veteran having served with honor and distinction in the German submarine service. Along with local resident and best friend Bob Hall, Tony enjoyed giving educational presentations to local civic groups about their shared experiences in the submarine service on opposite sides of the conflict. The Keene Sentinel has also done an expose on the lives of these veterans.
He is survived by his loving wife, Theresa Haag, and had been happily married for 63 years. Mr. Haag has two sons - Ben, his wife Patricia, and daughter Erika, who reside in Madison, Conn. and Thomas, his wife Michele, and daughters Tori, Alexandra and Samantha who reside in Hawthorne, NY, and a granddaughter, Jessica Haag, who resides in New York City. He was pre-deceased by his eldest son Harold in 2005.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 11:30 AM in the Immaculate Conception Church, School Street, Troy, NH. Burial will follow in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Old Marlborough Road,Troy. Family and friends are invited to call on Friday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene, NH.
The family has requested, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to the Troy Ambulance Service, c/o Rhonda Fish, PO Box 675, Troy, NH 03465.
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