Carl A. Hass, Jr. age 78 of Wheaton Illinois, beloved husband of Carolynn for 54 years, joyfully entered his eternal heavenly home on December 22, 2020. He had been recently diagnosed with ALS, after two years of declining health with various symptoms related to this disease. In his usual jovial personality, he never complained, but faced these symptoms head on and continued to praise His Savior.

Carl was born on November 25, 1942 in South Bend Indiana, the third of four children to the late Carl and Marie Hass. He grew up in South Bend, Indiana, a lifelong Notre Dame football fan, and graduated from South Bend Central High School in 1960. He studied business at Indiana University, where he earned his Bachelor's degree, and then continued studying business at Western Michigan University where he earned his Master's degree in 1967. In keeping with his degrees, he was a businessman for the duration of his career.  Within this career, he most enjoyed the role of mentoring new salesmen and saleswomen, which seemed to come naturally to him.  Those under his leadership would testify to his kindness, skill and natural ability to teach, imparting wisdom as easily as breathing.  No doubt, they would also testify to the humor he used, even while imparting important lessons, in order to create an encouraging atmosphere. Carl was often ready with a clever quip or wise words.  When he spoke people wanted to listen so they wouldn't miss the joke or the advice.

He would tell you the most important moment of his life was the moment he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.  At the age of 32, while living in California, he and Carolynn attended a conference organized by Marriage Encounter. This conference helped to not only set a new course for their marriage, but for his entire life.  It was during this weekend he ultimately put his life in the hands of the Lord, asking Him to direct all he would do related to marriage, family, business and his life as a whole.  From that time forward, Carl led his family with a godly example, prioritizing God first, family second, and his job third.

After that time, he and Carolynn moved their growing family to Seattle, Washington and then to Wheaton, IL.  They were involved in churches in all of these places, but found a true spiritual home when they became involved with College Church in Wheaton.  Carl and Carolynn have been active members there for over 39 years.  Carl passionately served at College Church in various roles.  Some of these roles included being on the Missions Board, serving on the board of Elders.  In some of these roles he and Carolynn served together, such as starting and shepherding the Singles, Divorced and Never Marrieds Class or as greeters at the Information Table. Carl and Carolynn also helped establish Christ the King Church in Batavia, IL as College Church's second church plant. In addition to serving at church, Carl participated in various ministries serving Christians in the community and around the world. Two examples are his involvement with Koinonia House in Wheaton, IL and Wheaton Academy in West Chicago, IL.  At the Koinonia House, part of his responsibilities included involvement with mentoring men going through Koinonia House and their prayer ministries, CARBS and Radical Time Out. At Wheaton Academy he and Carolynn started the Booster Club, he served on the Board of Trustees and most recently worked on the Wheaton Academy Foundation Board encouraging donors to make Wheaton Academy part of their estate giving, not to mention playing the active part of a father as he sent his five children through the school.

Carl and Carolynn enjoyed wintering in Florida together for the last 8 years where he could continue to golf, swim and walk, and where he befriended a neighborhood alligator, which he nick-named Kelsie, after his granddaughter.

As he worked in the midst of all of the activities mentioned above, he communicated his passion for two lasting purposes he felt were worth investing in in this life: one, the legacy God is building through the blessing of family and two, the way that he and his family would live as examples of the Gospel. He recently shared that the graciousness of God's forgiveness and how the gift of salvation would bring him to tears each night as he praised the Lord. He greeted everyone with a smile, never met a stranger and even in his last days was making sure everyone he spoke with, from the specialists to the janitor, knew the way to get to heaven so they could join him there one day.

Though he traveled for business often, he went to extraordinary lengths to attend his children and grandchildren's events no matter where they lived, from Wheaton to Minnesota to Rome, Italy, and rarely missed events. His love for his grandchildren came through in his effort to always play with them and create memories. Grandchildren will remember the farmer planting game, his cupboard of crazy toys, cracking eggs on their heads, "chase", "hilarious spaghetti" and just general silliness!! They enjoyed listening to him make up stories, embellishing well known fairy tales by inserting their names, perhaps the most famous being "Katherinella". He loved his annual fishing trips to northern Wisconsin and Canada, which included various combinations of his friends, sons and grandsons. His last texts were filled with gratefulness and joy in the gift of Jesus. He wanted to leave his family encouragement to praise the Lord Jesus in song quoting, "Heaven came down and glory fills my soul…"

He is survived by his wife, Carolynn, his five children Marie (Randy) Benware, Ken (Virginia) Hass, Melinda (Kevin) McCormick, Sarah (Joshua) Crosley, and Carl (Danielle) Hass III, nineteen grandchildren including two new grandchildren-in-law: Katherine (Timothy) Lopez, Caleb, Kelsie, Cody, and Karly Benware; Kenny (Rachel), and Kyle Hass; Annee, Declan and Brody McCormick; Paul, Hannah, Elizabeth and Nathanael Crosley; Charlotte, Elodie and Claire Hass, his sister Linda Kruse, brother Kenneth (Jackie) Hass, sister-in-law JoAnn Hass, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Edward (JoAnn) Hass and brother-in-law George Kruse.

A memorial service and burial will be held on Wednesday morning Dec.30th beginning at 10am privately for immediate family only.  A Celebration of Life service will be held in May or June 2021, when family and friends are able to gather safely.

Memorial gifts may be directed to: Wheaton Academy (900 Prince Crossing Rd., West Chicago, IL 60185), College Church Missions (332 E Seminary Ave, Wheaton, IL 60187), and Koinonia House , PO Box 1415, Wheaton IL, 60187.

Family and friends may sign a guestbook at Hultgrenfh.com. For more information please call: Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0022.