Obituaries

Roger Hugh Haapanen

Obituary

Roger Hugh Haapanen, 87, passed away suddenly at his home in Hayden, Idaho on August 23, 2024. He will be remembered fondly as a Christ-following man of great faith and integrity, a devoted family man, an accomplished musician, a caring teacher, and a proud veteran.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Emilie. Their marriage of over 40 years was ended by her death on November 7, 1999, after a courageous battle with cancer, during which Roger was her loving caregiver.

Roger is greatly loved and missed by surviving family members including wife Ingrid, sister Dorothy, daughter Katherine (Scott), son Brian (Amber), step daughters Janette (Jack) and Rebecca (Jim), and ten grandchildren.

Born November 12, 1936 in Aberdeen, Washington, Roger grew up enjoying Pacific Northwest activities including fishing, digging razor clams, working in a sawmill, and spending time with his family at Lake Quinault and Oyehut.

Roger began playing the trumpet in grade school, which became a lifelong passion. He took private lessons, practiced long hours, and excelled as a trumpet player at Aberdeen High School and beyond. After a year at Grays Harbor College, Roger attended the University of Washington, graduating in 1959 with a degree in music education. Shortly thereafter, he enlisted in the Army National Guard, where he served as an M-1 Carbine specialist and trumpet player from 1959-1965.

During that time, he embarked on a 38 year teaching career. He taught in several Washington school districts, including Friday Harbor, Seattle, and Northshore. “Mr. Haapanen” was a beloved teacher who left a lasting impact on his students. He taught music at Asa Mercer Junior High and at Queen Anne High School (1964-1977) where his marching, jazz, and symphonic bands earned numerous accolades.

He then made the difficult decision to step away from teaching music, in an attempt to preserve his deteriorating hearing, and began teaching history, social studies and government at Thompson Junior High, West Seattle High School and Cleveland High School. Roger also taught traffic safety for 31 years, and his children and grandchildren enjoyed hearing his epic stories about harrowing experiences as a drivers ed instructor.

Although he stopped teaching band, music continued to be an integral part of Roger’s life. He played trumpet with numerous musical groups in various genres and venues throughout the years. He loved performing with his son and/or daughter in church orchestras, and relished giving his grandsons trumpet lessons. In his later years, he enjoyed performing with The Tempos. He seized every opportunity to play his trumpet in church, even utilizing it in prayer ministry. He also volunteered with Bugles Across America, cherishing the opportunity to provide live taps at veterans funerals.  

When Roger wasn’t teaching or performing music, he loved listening to it (often LOUDLY) on his home stereo. Classical music was perhaps his favorite genre, and he had an extensive collection of classical LPs and CDs, many of which he found while thrifting. He loved gifting his CDs to make room for more, and many friends and family members benefited from his generosity.

His retirement years were among the happiest of his life. He married his beloved Ingrid on Christmas Eve 2001. They enjoyed each other’s company, attending church, participating in prayer ministry, studying the Bible, eating Ingrid’s delicious cooking, gardening, hunting for treasures at garage sales and thrift shops, and spending time with their children and grandchildren. They moved to their lovely home in Hayden, Idaho in 2022 to be near family, and Roger enjoyed his final years there to the fullest.

Roger was a kind, honest, gentle man with a delightful sense of humor, who made this world a better place. Although he is deeply missed, there is comfort knowing he is now enjoying Heaven.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, October 5, 2024, 2pm at the Chapel of the Resurrection Funeral Home followed by interment, with Honors, in the Mausoleum, both on the grounds of Cedar Park Church in Bothell, WA.