Late firefighter, probation officer remembered as embodiment of service
McCOOK, Neb. — McCook Mayor Mike Gonzales said quietly, responding Thursday to the death of one of McCook’s greatest volunteers, that the McCook Gazette’s motto describes perfectly the life of Raleigh Haas.
Gazette founder Harry Strunk lived his life and ran his business under the hand-chiseled granite motto: “Service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy in this world.”
Mike Gonzales said about the totally unexpected death of 62-year-old Raleigh Haas, “The Gazette’s logo fits Raleigh … and Raleigh’s paid up in full.”
Since the news of Raleigh’s death started circulating through McCook Tuesday morning, many have been in shock and mourning for the man who always had a big smile for everyone. Raleigh touched lives everywhere he went … there doesn’t seem to be anyone who didn’t like Raleigh.
Chelsey Hartwell of McCook wrote this Facebook tribute, “I am so thankful that I was able to learn and work alongside this great man. Rest easy, my friend.” Other comments about Raleigh on Chelsey’s page are:
“ … someone we should all strive to be.”
“ … truly one of the best, with the biggest heart and smile.”
“ … Raleigh was an inspiration to all who knew him!”
“ … he had a quick wit and a contagious smile.”
“ … he was the angel I needed that day.”
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“We lost a great guy,” McCook fire chief Marc Harpham said Thursday morning. “He meant a lot to us, and was a mentor to lots of us. He’s left quite a hole.”
Throughout his association with the fire department, Raleigh was a firefighter and a paramedic (since September of 1992), also serving as deputy chief and volunteering as a member of the Civil Service Commission. He was considered by many as “the voice of the volunteers,” Harpham said. “Raleigh’s influence on people will last for years,” Harpham said.
Harpham said that Raleigh was an active member of the fire department until the last several years when he felt that physical ailments with his ankles restricted his ability to continue doing the demanding work of responding to 911 calls. But Harpham said Raleigh was still an honorary member of the fire department, and could have come back anytime he felt he was able.
Harpham compared Raleigh’s death to “a kick in the stomach. There was no preparation for it. It seems like one minute he’s here, and the next minute, he’s gone.”
The McCook ambulance was called to the 500 block of East Third for a patient transfer at 7:08 p.m., Monday. Raleigh died Tuesday at Great Plains Medical Center in North Platte.
Raleigh and his wife, Kathy, could be seen very often walking around town; Raleigh enjoyed walking his dog. This summer, they were painting their big two-story house at 511 E. Third. They decorated every year for Christmas.
Across the street from the Haas home is St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and School, both of which play a big part in the Haas family’s life.
Father Gary Brethour said that Raleigh was very active in his church, explaining that he was an acolyte installed by the Bishop as a Eucharistic minister at Mass and the distribution of Holy Communion. He was a “regular” at Sunday Mass, daily Mass and daily school Mass.
Father Brethour said that Raleigh and Kathy were coordinators of the church’s annual fall festival, starting their plans each year in June or July. Raleigh was active in Father Trayer’s Knights of Columbus Council No. 1126, and he recently volunteered to serve as treasurer, Father Brethour said.
Services for Raleigh will be at St. Pat’s, Saturday, 10 a.m.
Raleigh had volunteered as a mentor, for three students, in McCook’s TeamMates program since 2008. TeamMates director Janae Solomon said that Raleigh was a consistent and committed mentor. “Raleigh had the personality to get along with any kid,” Janae said. “He was excited to be with kids, and always had a smile.”
Janae said that both Raleigh and Kathy have been involved in TeamMates, Kathy as board secretary since its inception in McCook in 2004. “Both of them are excellent mentors, and advocates for TeamMates,” she said.
James Mitnik, one of Raleigh’s mentees, said in a Gazette news story about TeamMates in mid-2017 that Raleigh made a difference in his life. “I learned compassion from him (Raleigh.) He never says a bad word about anyone,” Mitnik said.
Jay Alberts was a volunteer firefighter with Raleigh, and said that Raleigh’s death “sure surprised all of us.”
Jay said that Raleigh was very dedicated to the fire department, on both the ambulance and fire sides. Jay said he deeply respected Raleigh as a firefighter. “He was a stickler for procedure, and for safety. He did his job, and he kept people safe,” Jay said. “He and I may not have always agreed on everything, but we always left with a smile, as friends.”
Jay said he went on many long-haul ambulance rides with Raleigh, Jay driving and Raleigh in the back with the patient, and that Raleigh complimented Jay on his safe driving habits. “I remember a trip or two on ice to Kearney,” Jay said. “Raleigh trusted me. That means a lot to me. I’ve always said that if I ever need help, I want Mark Eiler (a former City of McCook firefighter/paramedic) or Raleigh Haas there.”
Jay said that he’ll remember Raleigh’s dedication and professionalism. “He always stepped up to the plate to do what needed to be done,” Jay said.
Along with the serious dedication, Jay also remembers Raleigh’s sense of humor. “When he became the warden at the work ethic camp, I called him ‘commandant’ or something like that,” Jay chuckled. “And Raleigh laughed and said, ‘Just call me Col. Klink!’” Col. Klink was the bumbling German prison camp commander in the mid-1960s TV sitcom, “Hogan’s Heroes.”
Linda Smith, who worked with Raleigh in the state’s probation office in McCook, called Raleigh “an all-around good guy.” She credits Raleigh with her advancement from a part-time secretary, to office manager, to probation officer. She is now county court clerk magistrate in the Hitchcock County courthouse in Trenton. “Raleigh was very supportive,” Linda said. “Whatever you needed, he was always so helpful.”
Linda said she saw Raleigh a couple weeks ago as he walked his dog around town, and they visited briefly. “I’m glad we were able to catch up,” she said. “ … that I got a chance to say good-bye … in a way … ”