William Eugene Haller, 72, of Andover, NJ, formerly of Washington, NJ, passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS/Lou Gehrig's Disease) on Monday, October 13, 2008 at home. Bill was born on February 6, 1936 in Elizabeth, NJ, the son of the late Eugene and Hedwig (Zadow) Haller. He graduated from Roselle Park High School in 1954 and from Delaware Valley College in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Bill was a dedicated and well-respected teacher for 29 years at Stanhope, Franklin Township, and Hampton Elementary Schools. He served on the Washington Borough Council for 18 years and was Deputy Mayor and Mayor in 1981 and 1982. He then served as Vice President and President of the Warren County League of Municipalities. Bill was also involved with the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He was a member of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Sparta, NJ, and a previous member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Elmora, NJ and St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Washington, NJ. After he retired from teaching, Bill moved to Cranberry Lake in Byram Township, NJ with his loving wife of 48 years, Elsie (Benson) Haller. He loved swimming, sailing, skiing, hiking, going to their timeshares in Pennsylvania and Florida and spending time with his family and friends. Bill also loved to play and coach basketball and drive the school bus for Hampton Borough Elementary School and Warren Hills High School.
Survivors:In addition to his wife, Bill is survived by his three daughters, Lynn Fuller of Whitehouse Station, NJ and her husband Bruce, Diane Rossi of Glenwood, NJ and her husband Mark, Karen Siegel of Flemington, NJ and her husband Mark as well as his ten grandchildren; Blair and Trevor Fuller, Eric, Kurt, Michael, and Renea Rossi, Kari and Wesley Siegel, and Morgan and Cassidy Haller. Bill was also pre-deceased by his sister Mildred Tinc, his twin brother Robert Haller, and his son Kenneth Haller.
Services: memorial service to celebrate his life will be held Sunday, October 26th, 2008 at 3:00 pm at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 246 Woodport Road, Sparta, NJ. A private cremation was held earlier at H.G. Smith Crematory, Stroudsburg, PA. Arrangements are under the direction of DeVoe Funeral Services, Inc., 136 W. Washington Ave., Washington NJ 07882. Online condolences may be expressed at www.devoefuneral.com.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Bill's name to the ALS Hope Foundation, PO Box 40777, Philadelphia, PA 19107, www.alshopefoundation.org or Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, 99 Sparta Ave, Newton, NJ 07860.
Tributes: Tribute from: Chris & Holly Bormann To the extended Haller Family,
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of you in your time of loss. We are so sorry to hear of your Dad's passing. You have all had far too much loss in your lives of late. We hope that in time you will be comforted by happy memories. Tribute from: Bruce and Hollie Mannon Dear Elsie and Family, we want to extend our sympathy to you all. It has been a long time since we were neighbors,but it was a good time in our lives. Bill was a great man and we will never forget his kindness to us. Please know you are in our prayers. Love, Bruce and Hollie To the Haller Family: I want to extend my deepest sympathies to all of you. I will always remember Mr. Haller as a great man and tremendous teacher. He was my junior high basketball coach and I learned so much from about the game and life. I know this has been a difficult year for all of you and I pray that God surrounds you with His peace, comfort and love!
God Bless Kenny Snover Tribute from: Beverly Schuyler,Werkheiser Dear Mrs. Haller and Family, I was a 6th grade Hampton student of your husband. I have often thought of your husband as the years have gone by. He was one of my favorite teachers. Be assured that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers and that his great spirit is somewhere working with children and teaching them his wonderful values.
Sincerely, Beverly Tribute from: Sheila & Eric Savioli To the Haller Family;
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you durring this difficult time. Eric and I lived on Weaver House Cove Road (across from the beach) and very much enjoyed seeing and talking with Bill. Since we moved to Florida we often thought of him and what a very friendly neighbor he was.
Eric and Sheila Dear Elsie and Family, Please accept my heartfelt condolences. Bill was liked very much by all and will be deeply missed. Bill had special gifts! Love, Jerry Baucom Dear Elsie and family, I was so sorry to hear about Bill's death. I know I speak for many of the old time teachers from Hampton when I say that I loved working with Bill. He was a really special person. The year that Bill retired the yearbook was dedicated to him. This is part of what the students wrote. "Mr. Haller brings to mind: Camp Bernie, Delaware Water Gap, jokes and far-out stories, smiles and silent answers, and a sense of humor. He is a giant with a crew cut and we will miss him" And so will I. Love, Sue Sullivan Dear Haller Famiy, I am so very sorry to hear about the passing of your husband, and father. I, like many have had Mr. Haller for my 6TH grade teacher.He was head of safety patrol. very intimidating when made angry, and very funny when not.I also have thought about him over the years.many good times in his classroom.Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time. sincerely, Holly (wisniewski)Casey Tribute from: Carmen Mendes Dellicker To the Haller family and all who loved him. My deepest sympothy to you all. Mr. Haller was my 7th and 8th grade teacher in Franklin Twsp. school many yrs. ago. Mr. Haller was my favorite teacher and a class act. I remember seveal yrs. ago when my husband and I where in our boat in Cranberry Lk. (where we still live) and there was Bill out in his boat and I said, you look like Mr. Haller my teacher. Sure enough it was him. He said wow I live at the lake too! I'll never forget that great smile and his crew cut!!! You have all been blessed to have this wonderful man in your lives. He will be missed. God Bless