Nelda Lee Waxler Haas, age 85, of Blanco, TX went to be with our Lord on April 13, 2011. Nelda was born October 26, 1925. She is preceded in death by her husband William Joseph Haas (W.J., Willie), her parents Charles Waxler and Ida Schaeferkoeter Waxler, one brother Clarence Waxler, one son Carl James Haas and daughter-in-law Debra Bell Haas.

Nelda was born in Blanco County and grew up on different farms and ranches along the Blanco River, raising and picking cotton and tomatoes. Nelda attended the Live Oak School near where she grew up. Nelda married Willie (W.J.) Haas on April 26, 1947 at St. Ferdinand’s Catholic Church in Blanco, where they then resided on the Haas farm 9 miles west of Blanco on Ranch Road 1888 with Willie’s parents, Walter and Clara. They lived in a small four bedroom house where they raised ten children. Nelda was a lifetime member of St. Anne’s Altar Society and St. Ferdinand’s Catholic Church, and was honored in 1997 with a 50 year pin at a luncheon at Little Blanco Inn.

She is survived by William Joseph (Joe) Haas Jr. and wife Jo Nell of Blanco; Cathy Haas Smith and husband Don Smith of Quitman; Edward Emil Haas and wife Sue of Blanco; Patrick Charles Haas and wife Yolanda of Spicewood; Michael Lynn Haas and wife Debbie of Austin; Jeanie Haas Purvis of Blanco; Diane Haas Kenny of Austin; Allen Lee Haas and wife Lisa of Blanco; Ellen Haas Alexander and husband Art of Missouri; as well as 25 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and close family friends.

Our mom/grandma always had a homemade loaf of bread and sweet tea ready, just in case someone stopped by to visit. Nelda spent many hours working along with her husband and family, farming and raising their own food and most of the feed for their livestock. She also spent just as many hours in the kitchen – canning, pickling and baking. No one made better pickles, beets, corn and just about any other fruit or vegetable. During hot summer days, Nelda spent her time making homemade ice cream in which she would enlist her children and grandchildren, using them to sit on the ice cream freezer and one to turn the handle. Above all else she prided her family. She dearly loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Even the last few days in the hospital she enjoyed the sounds of her family around her. She was a warm and wonderfully spirited woman with a great sense of humor that she shared with all she knew.

Our mom and grandma will be greatly missed by all who were blessed enough to have known her.

Upon her request, pallbearers are her six oldest granddaughters: Janna Kay Courtney, Stacy Marie Anguiano, Kelli Renee Haas, Jessi Jo Haas-Snow, Stephanie Ann Dickerson, and Luzinda Renée Haas Caballero.

Visitation was held at Crofts Funeral Home from 5:00-7:00pm, April 15, 2011; Rosary followed at 7:00pm, led by her sister-in-law Nelda Mary Haas Vogel. Funeral services were held at St. Ferdinand’s Catholic Church in Blanco at 11:00am with interment at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Twin Sisters with Father Jim Harnan officiating.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Blanco EMS.

Our death is not an end if we can live on in our children and the younger generation. For they are us, our bodies are only wilted leaves on the tree of life. ~Albert Einstein