Obituary: Gary “Butch” Haarsma

July 31, 1942 ~ October 28, 2020

Gary “Butch” Haarsma, 78, of Sturgeon Bay, died of COVID-19 on October 28, 2020 at the Door County Medical Center in Sturgeon Bay.

Gary was born on July 31, 1942 in Racine, son of the late Mildred (Welfel) and Gary Haarsma. He was raised in Racine and Manitowoc and was the middle son of two siblings. Gary joined the US Army in 1959 and was in the Military Police in Germany until 1962. He returned to Kenosha upon his honorable discharge and in 1965, married Lilah Miller. The two were married for 55 years and had two sons, Curt and Kevan. In 1975, Gary founded G&H Siding and Windows. In 1988, Curt joined him in the business.

Gary was a loving, fun-spirited, hard-working, and dedicated family man. sportsman and friend. His greatest passion was spending time with his family in Door County and sharing in fishing and hunting. Gary was an avid fisherman, who adored the sport anywhere his fishing gear would take him. He also loved fishing in Florida. His favorite catch was Walleye and he won several fishing contests throughout his lifetime. In 1995, Gary built his dream house in Door County and this was where he resided until his unfortunate passing. 

He is survived by his wife, Lilah; sons, Curt and Kevan Haarsma and Lee (Jane) Callewaert; daughter, Sabina Gaudoin; sisters, Judy(Jerry) Bassinger and Kriss (Jim) Larsen, sister-in-law, Bonnie Nutter; grandsons, Jonathan, Shae, Max, and Chase Callewaert, Ryan and Justin Gaudoin, and Ty Haarsma; granddaughter, Mia Haarsma; nieces, Jodi (David) Douglass, Jill Bassinger, Tiffany(Alfred) Quaranta, Tracy(Rock) Ridolfi; and best friends, John Hanson, Dan and Jodi Chaudoir, Todd Cater, Brad Burmingham, Mark Macabe, Scott and Mary Fruechtl, and Sally Henry.

He was preceded in death by his parents Gary and Mildred Haarsma;  sister-in-law, Betty Lindstrom; nephews, Jeff and Jason Bassinger.

Due to the current pandemic, no services will be held at this time.

Huehns Funeral Home, Inc. & Door County Crematory LLC of Sturgeon Bay are assisting the Haarsma family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Butch may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.