June Flodquist Haas

June Flodquist was born to Mary Rebecca (Best) and Carl Edwin Flodquist on June 5, 1934 in Burien, WA, the second of five children. With her father in the military, she spent her childhood in Alaska – Wrangell, Ketchikan and Valdez – as well as Washington and Oregon.

After graduating high school from Roosevelt High School in Seattle, she attended Whitman College and the University of Washington, where she was a proud member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. After graduating with a degree in education in 1956, she had the opportunity to “return home to Alaska” as she put it when she took a job teaching 3rd grade in Haines.

Upon her arrival in Haines, a young Army man named Frank Haas helped her move her luggage into her apartment. The two reconnected a year later while working on a play together with the Lynn Canal Community Theater, “Arsenic and Old Lace”, and married on June 21, 1958. They were blessed with two children, Michael and Katherine.

June dedicated over 30 years to teaching in the Haines school district. She loved working with younger children, both Mike and Kay had her as their 3rd grade teacher. After earning her Master’s degree in Education, she discovered a passion for working in both special education and gifted and talented programs and really enjoyed helping students seek out scholarships and encouraging them to pursue higher education.

June loved the outdoors and, during her younger years, enjoyed climbing mountains – even climbing on Mt. Rainier with her Mountaineers club, skiing and ice skating on Chilkoot Lake in Haines. She also loved flying and obtained her private pilot’s license in Haines in the late 50s. Some of her first dates with Frank involved trips to the airport where he would hand prop her plane and read a book while she was up flying.

Community service was a priority for June. She volunteered with many organizations, including the American Legion Auxiliary, the Haines Women’s Club, the Emblem Club, the BPW and the American Cancer Society. She also held local, state and national office positions for several of these groups.

June had the opportunity to travel around the world with the Gifted and Talented program (AGATE). She loved her time in Cuba, Russia, Siberia, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Asia observing the educational systems in these countries and presenting at conferences.

Due to dementia, June moved to Savage, MN in 2014 to be closer to her daughter and family. She passed away with her family at her side at the age of 90.

June is survived by her children, Mike (Heather) Haas of Seattle, WA and Kay (Rick) Dunning of Savage, MN, sister Ann Lizotte, brother Carl (Gayla) Flodquist as well as 6 grandchildren, Ryanne and Dr. Richard (Anna) Dunning and James, Abby, Bereket and Yihun Haas and several nieces and nephews. June also had the joy of spending time with her great grandson, Louie Dunning. She is predeceased by her husband Frank, her mother and father, sister Florence Bowen, brother Fred Flodquist, mother-in-law Irene Haas and brother-in-law Peter Haas.

June will be laid to rest with her mother and brother at Evergreen Washelli cemetery in Seattle, WA. A small service will be held there February 16, 2025 with a memorial service planned for Haines this summer.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Chilkat Valley Community Foundation (CVCF) in Haines, the Haines American Legion Auxiliary scholarship fund or the Haines Presbyterian Church.