Roger Allan Haas

Roger Allen Haas, of Ellijay, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2021, in Asheville, N.C.

Born in Chicago, Ill., in 1936, he served 34 years as a captain for Delta Airlines based out of Atlanta.

He married Gretchen Jeanne Barry in 1962 and raised their two daughters in Atlanta before moving to Ellijay in 1985 where he could devote more time and energy to his workshop and vegetable garden on Walnut Mountain.

He served as a LINK instructor and a sharpshooter in the U.S. Army at Fort Rucker in Alabama before joining Delta Airlines. As a captain of both planes and sailboats, he enjoyed taking his family and friends on voyages along both coasts and teaching his daughters to be capable sailors. A collector of all things mechanical, he was the go-to when in need of assistance for cars, lawn mowers and anything else. His workshop stands as a minimuseum of lathes, drills, saws and more.

In later years, he enjoyed sharing stories and adventures with fellow pilots and flight attendants as a Delta Golden Wings member, and spoiling his dogs and grandpuppies. He and his Great Dane, Tiny Tim, took tremendous care of his wife Jeanne, during her stay at Gilmer Nursing Home.

He is preceded in death by wife,  Jeanne; and beloved dog, Tiny Tim.

He is survived by daughters: Laura J. Shields-Haas, of Rockland, Maine, and Linda C. Haas Patton, of Asheville, N.C., and their spouses; and granddaughter, Jeanne L. Shields-Haas, as well as two grandpuppies, Herbie and Tilghman and Amite, the tiny cat.

Special thanks to the capable and considerate staff at Western North Carolina Baptist Home and Four Seasons Hospice for their attentive care and overall kindness.

No services will be held.

The family requests that memorials be made to MemoryCare in Asheville (memorycare.org), the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org), or to the Homeward Bound Pet Rescue of Gilmer County (HBPR.org).