Cover photo for Kurt "Mario" Haas's Obituary
Kurt "Mario" Haas Profile Photo
1943 Kurt "Mario" 2023

Kurt "Mario" Haas

September 15, 1943 — November 5, 2023

Amherst

Kurt Haas, also known as Chaplain Mario, passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 5, 2023, at the age of 80, after over 50 years of prison ministry and linking troubled youth and adults with life-changing programs

Kurt was born on September 15, 1943, to the late Paul Georg Haas and the late Ida Hofmann Mueller, spending his formative years growing up in the country of Switzerland. He was converted to Christ from a life of alcohol addiction through “Mom” Wilkerson of the New York City Teen Challenge.

Beginning ministry during his early Bible college years, Kurt counseled those incarcerated in the local jail, then went on to help establish a Teen Challenge center in Cleveland, Ohio, and afterwards worked with a prison ministry until establishing his own Missing Link prison and Internet ministry.  He held a Master of Arts in Pastoral Psychology and Counseling through Ashland Theological Seminary. His colorful background helped him reach countless people who were hurting.

Kurt was preceded in death by his mother, Ida Hofmann Mueller, his father, Paul Georg Haas and his brother-in-law, Eberhard Winkler.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Barbara Wilmerton Haas; children and spouses: Heidi (Jeremy) Medina, Monika (Richard) Eichelberger, Rosemarie Haas, Paul Haas and Peter Haas; grandchildren: Isabel Bonner and Seth Medina. He is also survived by his stepmother, Ilse Haack Haas of Germany; stepbrother, Christoph Ritter of Spain; sister, Rosemarie Haas Winkler; nephews: Roland Winkler, Ralph Winkler; niece, Karin Winkler Kuhlmey, all of Switzerland.

A celebration of Chaplain Mario’s life is scheduled for 12:00 o’clock noon on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at Broadway Assembly in Lorain, Ohio, with Pastor Matt Jones officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 o’clock noon just prior. Interment will follow at Ridge Hill Memorial Park in Amherst, Ohio. 

Listen to Kurt’s 30-minute, dramatized life story.

Wyers-Bollinger Funeral Home, 2900 N. Ridge Road, Elyria, Ohio, will be handling funeral arrangements. Memorial contributions to Broadway Assembly are welcome.

 

Kurt Haas, auch bekannt als Kaplan Mario, ist am 5. November 2023 im Alter von 80 Jahre n friedlich im Schlaf verstorben, nachdem er über 50 Jahre lang in der Gefaengnisarbeit taetig war und Jugendliche und Erwachsene in Schwierigkeiten mit lebensveraendernden Programmen in Kontakt gebracht hat.

Kurt wurde am 15. September 1943 als Sohn des verstorbenen Paul Georg Haas und der verstorbenen Ida Müller-Hofmann geboren und verbrachte seine praegenden Jahre in der Schweiz. Durch "Mom" Wilkerson von Teen Challenge in New York City bekehrte er sich von einem Leben in Alkoholabhaengigkeit zu Christus.

Waehrend seiner ersten Jahre am Bibel-College begann Kurt mit der Seelsorge im oertlichen Gefaengnis, half dann beim Aufbau eines Teen Challenge-Zentrums in Cleveland, Ohio, und arbeitete anschließend in einem Gefaengnisdienst, bis er seinen eigenen Gefaengnis- und Internetdienst „Missing Link“ gründete. Er erwarb einen Master of Arts in Pastoralpsychologie und Seelsorge am Ashland Seminar für Theologie. Sein bunter Hintergrund half ihm, unzaehlige Menschen zu erreichen, die in Not waren.

Er hinterlaesst seine Frau Barbara Haas-Wilmerton, mit der er 51 Jahre verheiratet war, sowie seine Kinder und deren Ehepartner: Heidi (Jeremy) Medina-Haas, Monika (Richard) Eichelberger-Haas, Rosemarie Haas, Paul Haas und Peter Haas; Enkelkinder: Isabel Bonner und Seth Medina. Er hinterlaesst außerdem seine Stiefmutter Ilse Haas aus Deutschland; Stiefbruder Christoph Ritter aus Spanien; Schwester Rosemarie Winkler-Haas; Neffen: Roland Winkler, Ralph Winkler; Nichte, Karin Kuhlmey-Winkler, alle aus der Schweiz.

Die Trauerfeier für Kaplan Mario findet am Samstag, den 11. November 2023, um 12.00 Uhr mittags in der Broadway Assembly in Lorain, Ohio, statt. Die Trauerfeier wird von Pastor Matt Jones zelebriert. Unmittelbar vorher empfängt die Familie von 10:00 bis 12:00 Uhr mittags Freunde. Die Beisetzung erfolgt im Ridge Hill Memorial Park in Amherst, Ohio.

Hören Sie sich Kurts 30-minuetige, dramatisierte Lebensgeschichte an: http://misslink.org/mario.html

Wyers-Bollinger Funeral Home, 2900 N. Ridge Road, Elyria, Ohio, kuemmert sich um die Beerdigungsmodalitaeten. Für Online-Beileidsbekundungen besuchen Sie bitte https://www.wyers-bollinger.com .

Gedenkspenden an die Broadway Assembly sind willkommen.

 

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kurt "Mario" Haas, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Saturday, November 11, 2023

10:00am - 12:00 pm (Eastern time)

Broadway Assembly Church

5495 Broadway, Lorain, OH 44052

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Celebration of Life

Saturday, November 11, 2023

Starts at 12:00 pm (Eastern time)

Broadway Assembly Church

5495 Broadway, Lorain, OH 44052

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