Phyllis A. Haas

Phyllis A. Haas, of Sarasota, FL, formerly of Champaign, IL and Sidell, IL, passed away on Thursday, March 30, 2023, in Sarasota at the age of 90. Phyllis was born in Ridge Farm, IL on January 16, 1933, to Clay and Olive (Landis) Miller. She obtained a degree in elementary education from Eastern Illinois University in 1955. She married Ralph W. Haas on June 26, 1955, in Ridge Farm, IL . They lived in Key West, FL while Ralph was stationed in the Navy before moving to the family farm in Sidell. Upon retirement, they moved to Champaign, spending winters in Florida until 2010 when they moved to Sarasota. While living in Sidell, Phyllis taught at Sidell Grade School, and later was the school librarian. She was a devoted farm wife driving tractors, tending livestock, and gardening. She was an accomplished seamstress, excellent cook, and was known for her pies, yeast rolls, noodles, and candies. Phyllis enjoyed playing bridge, dominoes, board games, working puzzles, and being a fan of the University of Illinois sports. She and Ralph loved to travel and visited all 50 states going by planes, trains, cruise boats, and automobiles. Phyllis had a strong Christian faith. She was a member of the Sidell United Methodist Church where she taught adult Sunday School class, sang in the choir, and held various leadership positions. While living in Champaign, she and Ralph attended Faith United Methodist Church. In Sarasota, they made their church home at both Pine Shores Presbyterian Church and at Sunnyside Village Chapel. Phyllis also served on the Board and Committees of Cunningham Children’s Home in Urbana, IL for several years, was a charter member of the Sidell Historical Society and a member of the Ladies Red Hat Society. Phyllis was a loving wife, a devoted mom, and an affectionate grandma and great-grandma. Her greatest joy was sharing life with Ralph and spending time with her family. She looked forward to spending weekends each summer at the family cottage on Lake Mattoon. A recent highlight of her life was celebrating her 90th birthday surrounded by all her family and meeting her two great granddaughters for the first time. Phyllis is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Ralph; daughters, Gail (Jack) Morrison of Georgetown, IL, Diane (Tom) Twork of Grand Haven, MI; granddaughters, Ashley (Patrick) Santel of South Glastonbury, CT, Karina (Leland Wiederhoeft) Morrison of Bremerton, WA, Kristen (Ben Blaney) Twork of Bourne, MA; great granddaughters, Penelope Santel and Lillian Blaney. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, and three sisters. A celebration of Phyllis’ life will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at Sunnyside Village Chapel, 5201 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota, FL 34232, with Pastor Jarvis Hochstedler officiating. A private burial service will be at Sarasota National Cemetery. Contributions in Phyllis’ memory may be made to Cunningham Children’s Home, 1301 N. Cunningham Ave., Urbana, IL 61802 (https://www.cunninghamhome.org/ways-give/honor-gifts-and-memorial-gifts), Sunnyside Village Foundation, 5201 Bahia Vista Street, Sarasota, FL 34232 (https://sunnysidevillage.org/sunnyside-foundation) or to an organization of the donor’s choice.

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Phyllis A. Haas

January 16, 1933 - March 30, 2023