Everett Lowell Haldeman, 96, died July 26, 2012. He was born Jan. 29, 1916, in Hope, Kan., the son of John Henry and Viola Catherine Haldeman.

Lowell graduated from high school in 1934 and from Kansas University in 1938. Before transferring to KU, he spent two years at McPherson College, where he met Margaret Pearl Messamer, whom he married on June 9, 1938.
Their long and happy life together was a source of strength for them and an inspiration to their children and grandchildren.
When Margaret died in 2005, they had been married for 67 years.

Lowell grew up on a farm outside of Hope and decided early on that the uncertainties of a farmer's life were not for him. He attended the School of Business at Kansas University and then went to work for J.C. Nichols in Kansas City. During World War II, he served in the Navy; he was initially stationed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and was then sent to Harvard University for radar training. His final assignment was at the Naval Air Station in Hutchinson, Kan., where he acted as quartermaster, distributing cash payments to navy personnel. When the war ended, Lowell and Margaret decided to stay in Hutchinson, which they considered a friendly and wholesome community in which to bring up their children. Lowell went to work for Krause Corporation as an accountant, later becoming the Chief Financial Officer. He retired from Krause in 1987. Lowell valued his friendship with Norman Krause and other colleagues.

Even after retirement, he kept an office at Krause for a number of years. While their children were growing up, Lowell and Margaret took them on numerous trips throughout the West. Although California, the Colorado Rockies, and the Grand Tetons were favorite destinations, they explored all states west of Kansas at one time or another, passing on to their children a fondness for the landscape of the American West. Later, when grandchildren were born, the YMCA Camp in Estes Park, Colorado, became a site for family reunions. Careful and conscientious in his professional life, courteous in his interactions with others, loving and protective within his family circle, Lowell was a true gentleman.

Lowell's survivors include: his children, Joanne Edmonds and husband Tony of Chicago, Ill., Francie Brown and husband Barry of Houston, Texas, Dwight Lowell Haldeman and wife Cindy of Nashville, Tenn.; his brother, Maynard Haldeman and wife Shirley of Derby, Kan.; six grandchildren, Anthony Edmonds and wife Jenn of Chicago, Ill., Dan Edmonds of Brooklyn, NY, Sam Edmonds of Spokane, Wash., Shannon Brown and wife Dana Brody-Brown of San Jose, Calif., Whitney Haldeman of Nashville, Tenn., Max Haldeman of Nashville, Tenn.; and four great-grandchildren, Naomi Pearl Brown of San Jose, Calif., Lucas Brown of San Jose, Calif., Maggie Edmonds of Chicago, Ill., and Finn Edmonds of Chicago, Ill.

A private memorial service is planned. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012, at Elliott Mortuary Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to First Presbyterian Church or to Wesley Towers, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 North Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.