Arnold (Arnie) Lou Haag, 65 years 6 months and 14 days, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus after a valiant fight against Lung Cancer March 10, 2020 at his home in Kennewick with the love of his life by his side and surrounded by his 3 children. Arnie was born in Pasco, WA, on August 27, 1954, the middle child of two proud and loving parents, Arnold and Louise. His sister Debbie was only a year and half older, his brother Lonnie was 9 years 5 months younger. His Mom Louise once said Arnie was her "BABY" and that's what she had called him, until Lonnie was born. Jodie realized later, that it explained a lot about Arnie. He was a tough guy with a baby face, tender heart, and beautiful blue eyes. He used to tell us stories of how guys would pick fights with him because he was big and strong, just to try to prove they were tougher. He told us he never picked a fight, he wasn't ever looking for a fight, but if someone hit him first, he was going to finish it. He grew up hunting out at Juniper Forest, he enjoyed shooting birds, but never could shoot a deer. He was just too much of a softie with their big eyes looking up at you. He grew up doing boy things, pushing the limit - racing motorcycles through farmer's fields, telling us a story where once a farmer shot at him as they were riding on his private property. Jumping off the cable bridge, he told us it felt like his knees went through his chest. The infamous Pasco flumes, tempting death. Fishing with his buddies, boating. His first car was a lime green roadrunner. How cool is that. In 1975 at a Bachmann Turner Overdrive/Chuck Berry concert with friends is where he first saw his sweetheart. He says he knew then, she says she was on a date. He later found her again when his mom came home to tell him there was a beautiful teller down at People's Bank with no ring and he better get down there. He always went there to cash his paychecks; at the time he was managing "My Place Tavern" where RF McDougall's is now for his dad. Legend goes he went through the drive through and asked her out, she said no, I don't date customers.. One evening Jodie was at RF McDougall's with a date and she saw him behind the bar, she saw his gorgeous blue eyes and he was wearing a baby blue shirt, she later said his eyes SPARKLED like CRYSTAL, she recognized him as the guy who kept coming through the bank drive up asking her for a date. He saw her and when her date went to the restroom, he came over and asked again to go out with him. He was always ready to give it his best shot. This time she said yes. Jodie remembers one of their first dates, he took her out to Juniper Forrest on his CZ 400 motorcycle, they rode the dunes and enjoyed the outdoors, until the chain broke. They had to walk the motorcycle back to town. This endeared him to her, although he felt embarrassed. Jodie always said it was his Beautiful Crystal Blue Eyes and Tender Heart that won her heart. On their 3rd date he bought her a gift, a necklace with a wedding set charm on it. The rest as they say is history, they were married November 1977.
Arnie is survived by his wife Jodie; children, Freedom (Brad Ostergaard), Kristen, and Heath; grandchildren: Paetynn, Elijah, Bricen, Kamdynn, Brient, and Faith. Sister Debi (Larry Fox), Brother Lonnie, sister-in laws Linda Newman and Debbie McElroy, their children and grandchildren, as well as numerous family members and friends that he loved so very much.
He is preceded in death by his Parents, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and grandparents. He will be laid to rest at Desert Lawn Memorial Park near his mom and dad per his request. A Celebration of Life Service will be held later in the summer, nearer to Arnold's August birth date.
