Raymond "Ray" Haase

Funeral services for Raymond "Ray" Haase, age 89, of Norfolk, Nebraska will be 10:30 a.m. March 30, 2024, at First United Methodist Church in Norfolk. Burial will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery in Norfolk.

Visitation will be from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. March 29, 2024, at Home for Funerals Chapel, 708 Georgia Avenue, in Norfolk.

Ray died Monday, March 18, 2024, at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk.

Raymond W. “Ray” Haase, son of, Theodore and Margaret (Collins) Haase, was born January 8, 1935, at Stanwood, Michigan. In 1941, his family moved to Osmond, Nebraska and he attended country school until the eighth grade. Ray worked on area farms before moving to Norfolk.

Ray’s name has long been associated with car racing. In 1954, at the age of 19, he began his racing career in Creighton driving a Lincoln convertible. In 1965, Ray and his brother Bob created Riviera Raceway in a cornfield, located south of Norfolk. For 51 years, he was an active race car driver and once he retired from driving, he continued helping his family members with their cars. Later he cheered them on from the grandstands.

Ray’s love for automobiles extended into his business of recycled parts which he sold to people from all over the area. He operated Southside Salvage in Norfolk for 68 years. His sharp mind was able to recall many of the available parts and the exact place they were located in the yard.

Ray is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Haase of Norfolk; children, Robert (Pam) Haase of Norfolk, Jeff (Diane) Haase of Norfolk, Rhonda Board of Battle Creek, Rozella Dreeson of Beatrice, Roselyne (Steve) Zwiebel of Lincoln, Resa Haase of Norfolk, Kandie (Rocky) Smidt of Norfolk, and Raeann (Oscar) Castillo of Lincoln; 34 grandchildren; 67 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren; and sisters, Rozella Erb Becker and Roxann Lewchuck.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore Haase and Margaret Haase Poggensee; children, Randy (Cindy) Haase, Penny Haase, Rochelle Haase, and Ranetta Haase; brothers, Richard (Arlene) Haase and Robert Haase; great-grandson, Preston Haase; and nephew, Steve Erb.

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