Clarence "Pete" Haeker

Graveside services and interment for Clarence O. Haeker will be held on Monday, June 10, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at the Alma Cemetery in Alma, Nebraska with Pastor Paul Ferrarone officiating. Military honors will be provided by the United States Navy Funeral Honors Team. A time a fellowship and lunch will be held following the services at Peace Lutheran Church in Alma.

Clarence Otto "Pete" Haeker, 85 years of age, of Longmont, Colorado passed away on Thursday, June 6, 2019.  Clarence was born December 1, 1933, on the family farm near Orleans, Nebraska, the second of four children born to Otto Christian Haeker and Laura Marie (Schleuffer) Haeker.

Clarence was baptized at Peace Lutheran Church in Alma. The family resided on a farm six miles southeast of Orleans until July 1, 1950, when they moved to Alma. Clarence attended School District #74 until the sixth grade, then when county schools were consolidated he continued his education in Alma. He graduated from Alma High School with the class of 1951.

In 1952, he enlisted in the United States Navy and completed boot camp at Camp Elliott in San Diego, California. He later served aboard the USS Cape Esperance, an aircraft carrier operating in the South Pacific in the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in June 1956, with the rank of Petty Officer First Class.

He attended Midland College, in Fremont, Nebraska and the Universities of Colorado, Denver, and Northern Colorado. He earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree in 1967 from the University of Denver, and became a member of the Bar in 1968.

On August 8th, 1959, he was united in marriage to Jane Thomas in Longmont. Since their early teens they had dated off and on, reconnected in 1958, and were wed shortly after. He remained a devoted and loving husband until his final day.

He was an avid outdoorsman and liked pheasant and duck hunting in Nebraska. He also hiked and backpacked in the Colorado mountains. He was a director of Off-campus Education at University of Northern Colorado and later was a hearing officer with the Colorado Department of Revenue.

Clarence is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Harold Haeker.

Surviving members of his family are his wife, Jane; daughter, Dawn Martinsen; son, Kurt (Denise) Haeker; grandchildren: Chris (Kara) Hobson; Kathryn Hobson (Ben Clark); and Beau Haeker; great-grandchildren: Aidan, Amelie, Kian, and Theo Hobson; brothers: Allen (Chris) of Alma; and Don (Jan) of Kearney, Nebraska; sister-in-law; Willa Rae Haeker; nieces: Natalie Hotchkiss; Lori (Cody) Knutson; Ann (John) Brusie; and Lisa Haeker; and nephews: Scott Haeker; and Hal (Dawn) Haeker.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Clarence's honor, and kindly suggested to Pheasants Forever; C/O Richard Calkins, Calkins Law Office, P.O. Box 440, Alma, NE, 68920.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com .

The Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma is in charge of the arrangements.