Meta Bruton Haanstad

Meta Elizabeth Haanstad, 101, of Sun Lakes, Arizona died Tuesday November 22, 2022 at a Lakewood, Colorado senior home. She was born September 9, 1921 in Chickasha, Oklahoma and spent most of her life living in Racine, Wisconsin.

Meta graduated from McLean High School in McLean, Texas. On September 30, 1942 she joined the Woman's Army Corps and served during World War II at Fort Sheridan, Illinois for three years. There she worked at the base post office where she met her future husband, John, who used to come for his mail. After her military service she attended the University of Oklahoma at Norman, Oklahoma. She married John Olav Haanstad on March 9, 1947 in Kellerville, Texas, and thereafter went by Meta Bruton Haanstad. They resided first in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, then in Ashland, Wisconsin, and finally moved to Racine, Wisconsin in 1963. While living in Racine she was a member of the Emmaus Lutheran Church.

After marriage Meta worked for a tire company in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and then was a homemaker for many years until she started working for the Racine Public Library, a position she worked at as a librarian for over 10 years before retirement. After the death of her husband in 2006, Meta lived with her daughter and son-in-law in Michigan and Arizona before finally relocating to Colorado in July of 2022. Throughout her life Meta loved all forms of needlework, especially knitting and quilting, a passion she shared through instruction and gifts with her family and friends.

Survivors include a son, John Olav Haanstad Jr. (Tatiana) of Prior Lake, Minnesota; a daughter, Edith Elise Tanniru (Mohan) of Sun Lakes, Arizona; and a son, Miles Joseph Haanstad (Darcey) of Thornton, Colorado; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and many nephews, nieces, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents Joseph Miles Bruton last of Kellerville, Texas and Edith Doughlass (Lockert) Bruton last of Sulphur, Oklahoma; a brother Kenneth Lee Bruton last of Grand Lake, Colorado; a brother Joseph Douglass Bruton last of Sulphur, Oklahoma; and a sister Zephyr Jane Bruton last of Borger Texas.

Services for Meta will be Saturday December 3rd, at 10 am in the Chapel of the West Lawn Memorial Park cemetery located at 9000 Washington Avenue, Racine, Wisconsin. The Rev. John Glass, a nephew, will officiate. Burial will be in the West Lawn Park cemetery.

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