05/26/2026
For me, it started with a pair of lamps. When moved here in February of 2019, we discovered what the people of St. John’s already knew. The parsonage living room had no overhead lights. If we wanted light in that space, we would need to get ones that plugged in. Thankfully, that had already been arranged. The Haarmans had left two lamps in case we would want to use them. We gratefully did.
This was my first encounter with the thoughtful generosity of Don and Georgia Haarman. It would not be the last. I would benefit from Don gifting me some Christmas light for my first December in Batesville. (They were blinking and are STILL among my children’s favorites.) I was tasked with delivering magazines about fishing because Don felt a church member would enjoy them. I had the opportunity to witness time and time again the generosity of spirit this couple shared. I remember one time where they called to change a visiting appointment. It wasn’t because they didn’t want a visit; but they were going to be in town the day before and thought they would stop in the office and save me the drive. (I never minded the drive.)
Don’s life of generosity, of course, began long before I met him, long even before he and Georgia moved to Indiana. Don’s career was spent as a firefighter, risking his life for the benefit and safety of others. That is not a career you can undertake unless you have a generous heart. As far as I can tell, it was a career, a calling, that he took seriously and worked hard at. Who knows how many lives he saved or touched during his time in St. Bernard. I DO know that it was a powerful enough calling for Don that his son followed in his footsteps. This generosity extended to Don’s faith. Active members of St. John’s, Don and Georgia brought a joyous spirit with them every time they were in worship, attended the church picnic, and more. They loved this congregation and generously suppot3ed it; and we loved them right back.
Time would fail me if I tried to mention all there was to know about Don. (For instance, I haven’t mentioned his golf game.) But I cannot end without naming his love for his family, especially his beloved Georgia. The love and pride he and Georgia shared for their family was a constant part of every conversation we had. And Don’s love of Georgia might have been his strongest trait. I could see it when I first started here, as Don was taking care of Georgia after a fall. I could see it every conversation we ever had. And I can see it still in the way Georgia talks about Don. Theirs’s was a true love story. I am grateful I got to see it.
Don, in the year since you left us, your memory has been upheld and cherished- here at St. John’s, by your family, and by all who knew you. Thank you for being an example of generosity for us. Thank you for being an example of self-giving love. You are missed.
