John Eric Haikara

John Eric Haikara passed away peacefully on March 24th in Seminole, Florida, at the age of 93. John was born in Bethel, Vermont, to the late Irma (Nordfors) Haikara, a Finnish-born homemaker, and John Lauri Haikara, a stone cutter and craftsman whose parents also hailed from Finland. Fifteen years after John’s birth, the family welcomed Jeff, who became a talented musician and artist.

John’s favorite memories of growing up in Bethel included special times with Jeff, cousins, and friends, adventures with his dogs Tippie and Mutt, playing baseball and basketball, fishing, going to dances, and being a drummer in a local band. Fast-forward - for his 91st birthday, John’s kids bought him a new drum set.

After graduating from Whitcomb High School in 1950, John served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955. He was stationed at various locations in Germany, including Nuremberg, where he was a driver during the final years of the International Military Tribunal (IMT) Trials. These were some of the best years of his life as he visited relatives in Finland and Denmark, saw historical sites, drank beer, and socialized with Fräuleins.

In 1955, to aid his father’s health, the family moved to a charming beach cottage in Redington Shores, Florida, which managed to survive the hurricanes of 2024. One day, while crossing Gulf Boulevard onto Madeira Way, Irma spotted a “Help Wanted” sign at a Service (later, Ace) Hardware that was soon to open. Interviewed on the spot, John started the next day and worked for the business’s owner, A.J. Fleischman, for 35 years. “Mr. Fleischman” was like a second father to John, entrusting him to open several Ace Hardware franchises in Pinellas County, including Crossroads and Seminole. John’s employees, many of whom were WWII veterans, cherished him and became good friends, and his sons Zack and John worked at the stores from a very young age.

After Ace Hardware Seminole closed in 1990, John continued to work in the hardware field and briefly for John Jr.’s electrical company. His favorite, final stint was being part of the team at Hammock Hardware in Largo, FL., for over a decade. By this time, independent “full-service” hardware stores were again favored.

One fateful day in the late 50s, John’s friend Marge Malecot introduced him to Patricia Ann Dyar, her co-worker at Annabel’s, a clothing store across the street from Service Hardware. The rest, as the expression goes, is history. After a year of enjoying the beach and hitting the hot spots of 1950s St Pete, John and Pat were married in 1959.

Over the ensuing years, John and Pat had three kids - Jason aka “Zack” followed in eighteen months by John and, seven years later, Tina. John and Pat enthusiastically supported their children’s (and, later, grandchildren’s) interests, including sports, scouting, music, theater, dance, and academics. John coached his sons’ Little League team and volunteered as an adult Boy Scout leader, which involved monthly camping trips across Florida. Canoeing became a big hobby during this era; one highlight was a weeklong trip down the Suwannee River. John and Pat spent several years on the championship roller-skating circuit, driving Tina to skating lessons in Orlando at the wee hours of the morning and making many new friends.

John took special pride in his grandchildren Jessica, Joshua, Kaitlyn, and Sarah's musical talents, including during family holiday performances.

Growing up and through the decades, John’s “favorite things” included taking care of his yard (including after two hurricanes in 2024), biking the Florida trail, enjoying many genres of music (Big Band, Dixieland, classic country, Allison Krause, The Eagles), playing cards with his Aunt Elma and Uncle Louie, bowling with the Ace Hardware gang, dancing at Joyland, nature and history documentaries, eating shrimp, peanuts and anything sweet and taking care of over 30 cats including his final companion, the cat of many names - Sticky Poo/Fat Cat/Kitty. He passionately supported several causes related to the environment, animals, and Native Americans.

John loved to travel and made it a point to take his family to almost the entire contiguous United States. One memorable vacation was a six-week camping trip to the West during the Bicentennial, including a few days in West Yellowstone to see Pat’s father and stepmother. Civil and Revolutionary War battlegrounds were “must-visit” sites, as were National Parks and Indian Reservations. Later in their lives, thanks to Tina and her husband Brad, John and Pat went on Alaska and Hawaii cruises to complete their U.S. tour. After retirement, John and Pat took several trips with Pat’s brother Dave and wife Barbara (now both deceased), which gave them much enjoyment.

During the pandemic, John wrote the “stories of his life” (https://bit.ly/3Yd3nI3) in longhand and mailed them to Zack to transcribe and edit. At some point, photos will be added to bring these stories to life, but in the meantime, you can read John’s memories in his own words. John was very proud of his Finnish heritage and cherished growing up in Bethel with a large, close-knit family and lifelong friends, too many to list here. Two to single out, though, are his late cousin Willo McCullough - who passed away just a couple of weeks before John - and Willo’s wife, Bea, who always kept John in the loop on the latest family and Bethel news. He very much enjoyed those updates.

John is predeceased by his parents, brother, and wife. He is survived by his daughter Tina (Haikara) Berg and her husband Brad; son Jason “Zack” Haikara and his husband Bill Donohoe; son John Hart Haikara; his beloved cat; his grandchildren, John’s daughters Kaitlyn and Sarah Haikara and Tina and Brad’s children, Jessica and Joshua Berg; his nephew Karl Haikara; niece Dana Hansen and her husband Joe; his late niece Carole Campbell’s husband Dave; and many cherished relatives, including those who still live in Vermont.

***

The family wishes to thank all who loved, cared for, stayed in touch, and visited Dad after our mom passed away, including: Aging Wisely and care coordinators Amanda and Siobhan; friends Molly and Don who provided much needed friendship and laughter; neighbor Kim for taking care of their shared cat; caregivers Kay and Christina who helped day-to-day and made his life easier; and Marilyn and the staff of Residence Club of Seminole who helped him on his final journey.

A memorial service will be held on May 5, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Bay Pines National Cemetery, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33708. In place of flowers, donations in his honor can be made to the SPCA or the Bethel Vermont Historical Society, PO BOX 25, Bethel, VT, 05032. https://www.facebook.com/BethelHistSoc/

In the future, John and Pat will have a ceremony and burial at Fairview Cemetery in Bethel, VT.