Elton John Haarberg

Elton John Haarberg was born to John W. Haarberg and Anna E. (Alsleben) Haarberg in Sharon Springs, Kansas, on Sept. 6, 1931, the youngest of four children. The family moved back to Chase County, Nebraska in 1933 where Elton attended elementary school at District 33, Immanuel Lutheran parochial school and District 14 in the Champion Valley. He graduated from Chase County High School in 1948.
Elton served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1955 as an airborne radio and radar repairman, attaining the rank of Airman First Class and receiving the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He was stationed at Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix, Arizona during his enlistment.
On April 17, 1955, Elton married Dorothea “Dot” Mae Johnson in North Bend. To this union were born two children, Beverly in 1956 and David in 1959. Elton and Dot raised grain crops and cattle in the Champion Valley and on the South Divide south of Imperial until they sold the farm and moved to Colorado Springs in 1996.
Elton was active in civic and church affairs in Nebraska. He served on the Enders Grade School and Imperial Grade School Boards; Elder, Secretary and Chairman at Zion Lutheran Church; board member and Chairman of the Nebraska Wheat Advisory Board (appointed by Governor Exon); board member of Great Plains Wheat; board member of Wheat and Wheat Foods Foundation; member and President of the Nebraska Wheat Growers Association; board member of Frenchman Valley Co-op; and board member of Promark, a grain marketing office of Farmland Industries.
After moving to Colorado Springs, Elton and Dot volunteered at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, transporting donated food from grocery stores and restaurants to the church’s food pantry and spending many hours helping homeless families through the Interfaith Hospitality Network.
An avid outdoorsman and traveler, Elton enjoyed camping, swimming, fishing, water skiing, deer and pheasant hunting and long road trips. Elton drove while Dot navigated on multi-state journeys that continued until recent years. International travel included Canada, Mexico, Japan and Europe. Elton had an affable personality and enjoyed having conversations everywhere he went.
Elton passed away Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020 in Colorado Springs. He was 89 years of age.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three siblings, Irene Kunnemann, Darlene Gissler and Dean Haarberg; and by his wife, Dot.
Survivors include daughter Beverly Ann Karsh and spouse Randolph M. Karsh of Colorado Springs, Colorado; son David Robert Haarberg and spouse Mark Mulligan of Martinsburg, West Virginia; granddaughters Aleah B. Karsh and spouse Jim Steinke of Colorado Springs, Colorado  and Erika R. Karsh of Denver, Colorado; brother-in-law Robert C. Johnson and wife Ruth of North Bend; and 13 nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will take place at a later date.
Memorials may be made to Chase County Historical Society and mailed c/o Charley Colton, 32314 740 Road, Imperial, NE 69033.