OBITUARY: Mary "Magdalin" Haas, 1907-2003 Magdalin Haas [Mitchell County Press-News online, www.mcpress.com, Posted Feb. 19. 2003] Memorial services for Magdalin Haas, age 96, of St. Ansgar, IA were held at 11 am Thursday, February 20, 2003 at the St. Ansgar Catholic Church, St. Ansgar, IA with Rev. Mark Reasoner and Rev. Scott Fleischer (Magdalin's great-nephew) officiating. Inurnment will be in the St. Ansgar Cemetery, St. Ansgar, IA. A special memorial service for Magdalin will also be held August 8, 2003 in St. Ansgar. She died Monday, February 10, 2003 at the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center, after a bout with the flu. Magdalin Haas, P.R.N. was born January 17, 1907 in Szulok, Hungary, the daughter of Stephen and Christine (Krainer) Haas. The family emigrated to America around 1915, entering Ellis Island, NY. Stephen arriving first, followed a while later by Christine and the two daughters, Mary Magdalena, (Magdalin) and Julie. The family resided in Chicago, then moved to St. Ansgar, where Stephen started a blacksmith business in the present Allstate Insurance building on the main street (Fourth Street) of St. Ansgar. They lived above the business. After graduation from St. Ansgar High School, Magdalin returned to Chicago and completed her Nurse's Training at Washington Boulevard Hospital (now known as "Rush") in 1929. After graduation, she worked at several Chicago area hospitals, including West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park. While in Oak Park, she lived several years with her brother-in-law's sister, Hertha Fleischer (also formerly of St. Ansgar). Magdalin took on special nursing assignments as a 24-hour live-in nurse for seriously ill patients. She frequently would drop what she was doing and go wherever she was needed, many times caring for young children. To this day several people across the country, adoringly call her their "Aunt Magdalin"! While Julie's husband Al Fleischer served in W.W.II Magdalin left Chicago to aid Julie who was pregnant with Phil and living alone in Wells, MN. Later she returned to St. Ansgar to be with their ailing mother, Christine, in her final days. Upon retiring from active nursing in Chicago, in 1957 due to health reasons, she lived in her mom's house in St. Ansgar. She became active in the St. Ansgar Catholic Church, and helped start the Senior Saints Citizen Center in St. Ansgar. She enjoyed taking care of her neighbor's children, gardening and going on long walks around town. She also enjoyed helping the elderly by getting their mail and food. She walked uptown daily ... in all weather (including below zero) -- refusing every offer of a ride. She spent her final seven years at the Good Samaritan Center -- where all the staff loved her pleasant, cheerful personality. Magdalin was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Julie and her brother-in-law Al. She is survived by her nephews Ron Fleischer of Morro Beach, CA and Phil Fleischer of St. Ansgar, IA. Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar, IA is in charge of arrangements (641) 713-4920. Copyright (c) 2003 by Kermit Kittleson This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. *************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ***************************************************************************