Dr William"Bill" Haanen

On August 2, 2024, the world lost a bright and compassionate soul. Dr. Bill Haanen, a beloved chiropractor whose healing hands and kind heart touched the lives of many, died at the age of 89.

Bill was born in Green Bay on April 10, 1935, to the late Louis and Gertrude (Schnetzer) Haanen. He attended UW-Madison, earned a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Logan College of Chiropractic in St. Louis, and was certified as a Diplomate of Chiropractic Orthopedists. In 1959, Dr. Haanen established a successful chiropractic clinic in Kaukauna, where he served the community for 46 years. His practice brought him joy, and he loved his patients. Bill was an ardent adventurer who traveled the world. He had a big personality and a competitive nature, and he spread joy by making people laugh with pranks and jokes. Bill loved his family, sports (go Pack!), food, books, and classical music. He continued boating into his 80’s, including daily turtle-spotting canoe trips and tubing behind the pontoon boat.

Bill will be sadly missed by his wife of 41 years, Peggy (Miller) Haanen and his large blended family, including his children: Mike (Ann Galley) Haanen, Shelley (John) Snyder, Julie Gerow, Tom (Karee) Haanen, Mary Fink, Karen Sieler, Krista Haanen, Nicole (David) Schram, Justin Simpson; former spouse Marianne (Haanen) Lechler; sisters and brothers-in-law: Linda (Larry) Mitchell, James (Sally) Miller, Susan Rooyakkers, Vickey (Rob Martzahl) Miller, Jan Vosters, Mary (Renee) Petit, Margie (Kurt Meyer) Bartels, Tom (Julie) Miller, Karla (Scott) Paulan, Kim (Ben) Charles; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bill was preceded in death by his parents Louis and Gertrude; father-in-law Jerome Miller; children Catherine and David; grandchildren Danielle and William Beyer; sisters and brothers-in-law Marguerite “Peg” (John) Kitslaar, Joyce (William) Gehr, and Terry (Linda) Miller.  

The funeral service for Bill will be held on Monday, August 12, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the Verkuilen Van Deurzen Family Funeral Home, 2401 Fieldcrest Dr., Kaukauna.  A time of visitation will be held on Sunday, August 11, 2024 from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home and will continue on Monday morning from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.  For online condolences please visit www.verkuilenfh.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Bristol hospice or the Chute Lake District in Bill's memory.

Every tear is a prism through which I see, a rainbow of emotions and memories, though fate has led you to another place, true moments hold meaning time can never erase.