Walter "Walt" James Haag passed away peacefully on May 31, 2026. He was born on January 2, 1947, in New York City, New York.

Walt is survived by his wife, Evelyn Haag of Onalaska, Wisconsin, and her children, Justin Babb and Travis Babb; his daughter, Jessica Roragen and her husband Keith of Omaha, Nebraska; his grandson, Douglas Schafer of Omaha, Nebraska; and his son, James Haag, Ph.D., of Boston, Massachusetts. He was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Alice; his siblings, Daniel, Marjorie, and Robert; his aunt and uncle, Carey and Jimmy King, and his aunt Clara Rushmeyer.

Walt devoted his life to service—both in education and in the United States Army. He attended Midland College in Fremont, Nebraska, graduating in 1969 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. 

Walt was drafted into the US Army in 1970 during the Vietnam War and was stationed in Nuremberg, Germany from 1971-1972. After the War, he returned to Midland College, completing his degree in Elementaty Education. In 1973, Walt started his first teaching job in Bellevue, Nebraska. By 1978, he was an Elementary School Principal, first in Falls City, Nebraska, then at Grant Elementary in Fremont, Nebraska.

In 1979, he completed a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and later continued his professional military education through the U.S. Army War College. 

Walt served honorably in the United States Army for 20 years on active duty and an additional 17 years in the Army Reserves, retiring at the rank of Colonel. 

Among his many roles, he served with the 88th Regional Readiness Command at Fort Snelling, Minnesota; Director of the ROTC program at Mankato State University, Mankato, Minnesota; Liaison Officer for the Regional Readiness Command overseeing 25,000 soldiers in Mountain View, California; and Director of Reserve Affairs at the Office of the Army Surgeon General in the Pentagon.

After retiring from the military, Walt continued his dedication to healthcare and readiness, serving for seven years with Logistics Health, Inc., in La Crosse, Wisconsin. In 2013, he retired as Director of the Periodic Health Assessment program.

Walt will be remembered as a man of integrity, quiet strength, and diligent witt. His life was defined by service, leadership, and love.