Gordon E. Haugli

Gordon Ernest Haugli died at home on Dec. 29, 2024, at the age of 88. He was a strong and generous man throughout his life.

Born Feb. 9, 1936, in the midst of a blizzard on the family farm in Chippewa County and raised in Colfax, Gordon graduated from high school in 1954 and enlisted in the Air Force. He was honorably discharged in December 1957, and from 1958 to 1961 attended the Embry Riddle School of Aeronautics in Florida to earn his aircraft mechanic's license. During a break between class periods, he met his wife Cora Ann Roycraft on a blind date, and they got married in June 1961.

Gordon began work as an aircraft mechanic at Gibson Aviation, where he started flying to get his pilot's license. In 1966 he went to work at Mercury Outboard Motors as a pilot and mechanic, and in 1968 moved to Illinois to fly for Brunswick as a copilot and mechanic on the company's corporate jet. Five years later he took a job at A.O. Smith in Milwaukee as captain of its Saberliner. He continued to fly for various employers, including for a short time delivering organs with Flight for Life, and retired at the age of 80 after flying for Menards.

Gordon enjoyed skiing, deer hunting, traveling and working on projects around the house. He planted trees everywhere he lived and watched many of them become full grown. He spent the last years of his life helping out on his son's farm, hiking with his daughter near home, visiting with his other son in California, playing cribbage with his recently deceased brother, Gene, and reading thrillers and watching mysteries on PBS with Cora. A friend to everyone he met, Gordon gave to multiple charities and helped anyone in need.

Preceded in death by parents Ernest and Ethel (Johnson) Haugli, sister Judy (Haugli) Goodrich, brothers Timothy Haugle and Gene ("Bud") Haugle, "Gordy" is survived by his wife of 63 years, three children and two grandchildren.

Donations in his honor should be made to the William Irvine Endowment Fund in support of Irvine Park at the Community Foundation of Chippewa County. Out of respect for his wishes, there will be no viewing or wake. A separate announcement will be made for a graveside service with Military Honors in the spring of 2025.

A phrase in Norwegian written on a card from his father’s confirmation applies to Gordon as well, here translated: “If you have brought sunshine to an eye, comfort to a heart that suffered, then you have reward for your toil, perhaps greater than you know.”