Ethel Mae Haan

While growing up she worked hard on the farm and had lots of fun playing with her siblings, who called her Ethel Mae. Most of the time the whole family had to work, but when she got a chance, she loved going to school and whenever she was able to go to school that was the highlight of her year.

After becoming an adult, Ethel moved to Oklahoma City and for a short time and lived with her older sister Hardistea. In the late 1950s she moved to Wichita, Kansas where she resided until her passing.

Ethel, was married several times, but was mostly a single parent. She worked hard to raise her six children, many times working two or three jobs to provide for them. She worked as a cook, worked in maintenance at Harper’s Trucking and retired from St. Francis Hospital from the housekeeping department. Truly the love of her life was her husband Daniel Haan whom she was married to for several years before his untimely passing.

For over 50 years Ethel was a zealous member of the congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She attended many conventions over the years and belonged to Northeast Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Exercising her faith led her to meet many brothers, sisters and friends. Ethel witnessed to many people while going door to door, studying the bible and always expressing her love and faithfulness to Jehovah God!

Ethel loved life, meeting people and doling out her signature hugs and red cheek kisses! She loved her eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was affectionately known as grandma, grandma Haan, grambo and granny! Ethel was not one to meet a stranger and she let everyone know to “call me grandma”, so she had more like 800 grandchildren!

Sadly, on Sunday April 19th Ethel passed away unexpectedly at her home; her sons Michael and Val Gene, daughter Brenda, daughter in love Kathy and grandson Fontaine were there with her. We know that someday a paradise garden will be waiting for Ethel aka Grandma. She will be greatly missed by her brothers, children, grandchildren, extended brothers, sisters, family and friends.

Ethel was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Jurlene Harper. siblings; Cherfulee Harper, Hardistea Farris, Herman Harper, Leroy Harper, Timothy Harper, Wille Mae Harper and Clair Lindsey. Two of Ethel's children also preceded her in death; Christopher Baker and Shirley Jackson.

She leaves to cherish her memory, two brothers Leeodis Harper(Shirley), William Harper (Gloria), sons; Michael Wilson(Kathy), George Baker, Val Jackson and daughter Brenda Baker Hayden(Eric), eight grandchildren: Nolanna Carthen-Simon, Fontaine Foster, Karnell Foster, Kalisha Carthen, Tasha Foster, Briana Lima, Brandon Dickson and Deontae Hayden (Ricayah); eight great-grandchildren; Nya, Patrick (PJ), Devoriah, Torques (TJ), Brandon (BJ), Izaiyah, Uriah, Maddox, nephews, nieces and a host of extended family and close friends.

Come and go viewing with social distancing will be from 1 p.m to 4 p.m at Lakeview Mortuary 12100 E 13th St N, Wichita, KS.