Joel C. Haws

HAWS, Joel Charles, age 48 Butler Twp., passed away unexpectedly Monday, September 25, 2017. He was born on December 6, 1968, in Dayton, son of the late Charles & Doris (Holmes) Haws. Joel was a 1987 graduate of Vandalia Butler High School where he formed friendships that endured the test of time. He played football and wrestled, a self proclaimed “jock by day, hood by night.” In 8th grade, at Smith Junior High School, he and Julie met and began their friendship. In December 1996, at Lover’s Leap at Natural Bridge State Park, Joel asked for her hand in marriage. After saying, “Yes” she asked, “If I had said, “No”, would you have jumped?” and he replied, “No, I would have pushed you!” And so began a 20 year marriage full of love and laughter as well as the projects that come with remodeling an old home, raising kids, taking numerous adventures and vacations with family and friends, all the while eating good food and drinking the good stuff along the way.

Jobs at Pugh Pallets, ABF Freight, Mead/MeadWestvaco and New Page helped hone his people skills and provided him with new experiences, learning opportunities, and life-long friends that more than prepared him for his final job as Corporate Logistics Manager at Midmark Corporation in Versailles, Ohio. Despite the lengthy commute, Joel loved going to work every day, solving the next day’s challenge and interacting with co-workers and vendors, many of which he proudly called friends. Some of his best days “at work” were often made even better with a round of golf with his closest buds.

Joel was as comfortable sitting in a corporate meeting room as he was behind a welder’s mask, using a chainsaw or cooking a phenomenal meal for his friends and family. He loved being outside, taking care of his yard and gardens, wrenching on the nearest motor, all the while listening to the music of his youth and dreaming up his next project. He loved to travel and explore any city he visited, meeting the locals and savoring the local flavor. He was most relaxed cruising around in his 66 Mustang, on his boat at the lake or on the beach with his toes in the water and ass in the sand.

But what he loved more than his job, his house and his Mustang, even more than golf, was his “Girls, Girls, Girls” (a favorite Motley Crue tune of his.) Julie, Sophie and Stella (even Jetta, the German Shepherd is a girl!) were his world and he spent every day providing them with all the love he had to give. He was their rock and they will spend the rest of their lives grieving his loss and honoring his life.

In addition to Julie, Sophie and Stella, Joel is survived by his brother, Greg & wife Kelly Haws (Matt & Laura Haws; Casey & Rebekah Haws, and Emily & Justin Martin); in-laws Patty & Carl Schweickart; sister-in-law, Leigh & husband Bill Tompkins (Jordan and Alex); Barbara Haws; Betty Pugh; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, great-nieces, and great-nephews. Joel also cherished a host of other relatives, dear friends, buddies, guys and colleagues. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 29 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Christopher Catholic Church 435 E. National Rd. Vandalia, with Fr. John Tonkin officiating. Burial will follow at Polk Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church on Thursday evening from 5-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Sophia and Stella Haws Education Fund, c/o Wright Patterson Credit Union, 7704 Hoke Road, Clayton, Ohio 45315. Checks need to be made payable to Sophia and Stella Haws and mailed/taken to Wright Patterson Credit Union. Envelopes will be available at the visitation and funeral. Online condolences can be shared with the family at www.mortonwhetstonefh.com.