Dr. Gary W. Haese

STOUGHTON- Doctor Gary William Haese died Friday, September 24, 2010 due to medical complications sustained from an accident outside his local orthodontic office.   He was born on October 18, 1949. He was the son of Royal and Leone Haese, and one of three children.  As a child, Gary grew up in Wauwatosa, later attending high school at Wauwatosa High. He continued his education, attending Holy Cross of Massachusetts on a football scholarship. Gary then went on to attend Lawrence University to complete his undergraduate degree in economics, where he met and fell in love with his wife Pam.   After his graduation, he attended Marquette University Dental School.   After completion of dental school, Gary served three years at Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Nevada as a dental officer in the Air Force. He went on to attend Washington University, St. Louis, where he received his degree in orthodontics and later went on to receive his ABO certification in orthodontics. Gary practiced orthodontics in both Stoughton and McFarland, having private practices there from 1982 to present.   G ary was a beloved husband, father, and brother. He took great joy in spending time with his loved ones. As a father, Gary was a very involved parent. He enjoyed watching his son Tom grow up playing hockey, never missing a game or practice. His oldest son, Bryan, was a member of the U of M cheerleading team. Gary loved attending the games and was without question, one of the loudest and proudest fans in the stands. His only daughter, Elizabeth was the oldest of his children. She carried on his favorite pastime of basketball. Teaching his daughter the ins and outs of the game was no doubt one of the highlights of his life.  Gary was a Badger fan, tried and true. He enjoyed attending basketball games and would do so as often as he could. Among his other recreational interests, Gary was a tinkerer. Those who knew him best describe him as a man who loved to work with his hands, someone who enjoyed the satisfaction of  completing a task himself.  From this aspect of his life, much of his character was derived. He was detailed and precise, able to complete any task with a steady hand. In addition, he was a problem solver. Whenever a problem presented itself, Gary was there, ready and willing to break down the issue at hand and took great pride in his ability to resolve them.  This was especially true with his love of cars. When he wasn't working or spending time with his family, Gary loved to work on the family cars. While many would find this a source of great frustration, it was quite the opposite for Gary. He found it therapeutic and loved spending his weekends outside under the hood of one of his cars.  In addition to these activities, Gary was active took part in many areas of the community. His son Bryan was a member of the Boy Scouts, an area in which Gary was quite involved.   This was also true of his participation in the Norwegian Dancer Organization.  His two sons were involved for a combined total of four years in that wonderful organization.  Gary enjoyed his participation in Friends of Norwegian Culture.  Gary was preceded in death by his brother Bill, mother Leone, and father Royal. He is survived by his wife Pam, daughter Elizabeth (Brian Swain), sons Bryan and Tom, and sister Janice Stampfl of San Diego.  Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at St. Ann Catholic Church in Stoughton.  A memorial gathering will be held from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Monday, September 27, 2010 at the Olson-Holzhuter-Cress Funeral Home in Stoughton.  In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials to St. Ann's Church, Dane County Humane Society, or Friends of Norwegian Culture.  Gary loved serving the people and families of Stoughton and McFarland. His family is grateful to the Stoughton EMS, Stoughton Hospital ER, and UW- Madison Trauma Center for their efforts on Gary's behalf.