[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 92 (Thursday, June 20, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1143-E1144]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  KEN HAAG, FRIEND AND TALENTED ARTIST

                                 ______


                          HON. BRUCE F. VENTO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 20, 1996

  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, a friend and talented artist, Ken Haag, 
passed away May 16, suddenly and unexpectedly, at his Eastside Saint 
Paul home. Ken's loss will be heartfelt by the entire community and 
neighborhood. Ken Haag poured his great energy and talent back into the 
State of Minnesota, our Eastside neighborhood, and his wonderful 
family.
  Ken was a constant and joyful volunteer. He lent real meaning to the 
role of citizenship, working as an artist but deeply involved in music, 
education, environment, and housing activities. He was a modern day 
renaissance man.
  Ken took special pride in his high school experience. His artistic 
talent was recognized by establishing a scholarship program at Saint 
Paul's Johnson High School.
  Ken Haag's distinctive art works depicting wildlife and Minnesota 
settings benefited many publications. Especially notable were the 
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Volunteer covers.
  Ken's cultural roots were Scandinavian, and for over three decades he 
was a loyal member of Saint Paul's Swedish Male Chorus. Ken was a real 
pioneer--a quiet, no-nonsense activist who was often at the cutting 
edge of issues.
  Ken attained good success and continued to live and thrive, and give 
back to our community much more than he ever received. Ken will be 
missed. Thanks, Ken.
  I encourage my colleagues to read the following article about Ken 
Haag, which appeared in the Saint Paul Pioneer Press on May 18.

[[Page E1144]]

                [From the St. Paul Press, May 18, 1996]

                     Magazine Artist Ken Haag Dies

                           (By Anne Brataas)

       A memorial service for St. Paul wildlife and sporting 
     magazine artist Ken Haag will be at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at 
     Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church, 1669 Arcade St., St. Paul.
       Haag, 63, died early Thursday of a heart attack in his East 
     Side St. Paul home.
       A St. Paul native, Haag graduated from Johnson High School 
     and the Minneapolis School of Art and Design, served in the 
     U.S. Navy and attended Gustavus Adolphus University.
       ``He was always drawing,'' his wife, Barbara, recalled. 
     ``Even as a little kid, he would copy what he saw in the 
     funny papers.'' Since 1985, Haag had created the cover 
     artwork and illustrated articles for Sports Collector's 
     Digest. He illustrated nature guides for Picture magazine of 
     the Minneapolis Sunday Tribune from 1963 to 1969 and created 
     the cover art for the Minnesota Volunteer magazine from 1963 
     to 1975.
       In addition to art, Haag particularly enjoyed baseball, 
     music and nature, and was an avid observer of waterfowl on 
     St. Paul's Lake Phalen. He was a past president of the 
     Minnesota Bird Club and a member of the Zumbrota Covered 
     Bridge Society.
       For 32 years, he was a member of the St. Paul Swedish Male 
     Chorus.
       Among other community activities, Haag staffed the annual 
     Festival of Nations' Swedish booth and served as president of 
     the Phalen Lake Elementary School PTA for the 1976-77 school 
     year.
       He also chaired the Minnesota Environmental Citizens 
     Control Agency speakers bureau from 1969 to 1972 and the East 
     Side's Volunteer Housing Committee in 1975.
       In 1991, a Ken Haag Art Scholarship was begun in his honor 
     at Johnson High School. It awards $250 each year to a student 
     who demonstrates outstanding artistic ability to be used for 
     further art education.
       Haag had already selected this year's winner before his 
     death. His children will present the award in his memory and 
     dedicate a portion of the memorials received for future 
     scholarships.
       Haag is survived by his father, Hans of St. Paul; his wife, 
     Barbara; four daughters, Camille Farinella of St. Paul, 
     Michelle Beaulieu of North St. Paul, Dorinne Foster of 
     Maplewood and Kendra Haag, St. Paul; one son, Chad Haag, St. 
     Paul; six grandchildren; and two sisters, Jan Cruz of Hugo 
     and Grace Potter, St. Paul.
       A private family funeral is planned.

                          ____________________