OSCAR C. HAUGE JR. Obituary

Oscar Coleman Hauge Jr., 89, passed away May 12, 2009, of natural causes at his home in Riverside, Calif.

Oscar was born Feb. 2, 1920, in Havre, Mont., to Oscar and Ester Hauge. Wh i l e a t t e n d i n g t h e Universi ty of Montana in Missoula, when he wasn't playing piano at dances around town, Oscar learned to fly airplanes at Hale Field a skill which led to a distinguished military career. He attended and graduated from the U.S. Naval Air Station Flight Class 128 in 1941 in Corpus Christi, Texas. While in flight training in Corpus Christi, Oscar met and married Gevevra "Gene" Hall in 1942. Together they had three children, Rodger, Ron and Karen, and led the classic roving military life, moving from North Carolina to Hawaii, Virginia, Texas and Ca l i fo r n i a a n d b a c k t o Montana. Oscar became a Marine Corps pilot early in World War II. Throughout the war, he flew troops and supplies all over the world throughout the Pacific, North Africa, the Middle East and Russia. In the years following WWII, Oscar was sent to St. Croix to build an air base. He also served in the Korean War as a squadron commander. In his years of flying, he flew the following airplanes: N2S Stearman, SNS , PBY, C- 4 6 Cu r t i s Commando, R4Q Flying Boxcar and F9F Panther Fighter. He was an F9F squadron commander in the Korean War. After retiring from the Marine Corps at the rank of major in 1961, Oscar and Gene returned to Missoula. Oscar attended law school at the University of Montana and began a highly successful second career with New York Life as a life insurance agent. He was respected and recognized for the work that he did and how he took care of his clients. Oscar was a member of the Missoula Kiwanis Club and served on the Missoula Community Hospital board. Oscar, Gene and family enjoyed time at their cabin at Seeley Lake. Oscar's second marriage was to Marilyn Wright in 1972. He became stepfather to her three children from a previous marriage, Brad, Blaine and Beth. Oscar loved to play golf and enjoyed the Missoula Country Club. The lure of yearround golf eventually Oscar and Marilyn to Hawaii. There, he also enjoyed the camaraderie of the officers' club in Honolulu. Fol lowing the death of Marilyn in Missoula in 1998, Oscar returned to Hawaii. In 2000, he married Joanne Dohrer. They play golf, cruised the Hawaiian Islands and attended many functions for retired military officers. In 2007, they moved to Riverside, Calif. And enjoyed life in a military retirement community watching the antics of area birds and their cherished dog. Oscar is survived by his wife, Joanne of Riverside, Calif.; his three children, Rodger (Jean) Hauge of Spokane, Wash., Ron (Denise) Hauge of Missoula, Mont., and Karen (Bill) Sykes of Honolulu, Hawaii; his three stepchildren, Cynthia Robins, Michelle Dye and Christopher Squellace; his five grandchildren, Courtney (Colin) Flint, Eric (Brandy) Wolcott, Anna (Mauricio) Leclerc, Kate (Andrew) Sundqui s t and Patrick; his four great-grandchildren, Douglas, Jack, Olevia and Olivia; and his three stepgrandchildren. Oscar was predeceased by his father, Oscar Coleman Hauge Sr.; his mother, Ester Hauge; his brother, Lester Hauge; his second wife, Marilyn; and his grandson, Jens Hauge. A memorial service was held June 5, 2009, in Riverside, Calif. A military honor service will be held Aug. 12, 2009, in Honolulu, Hawai i , at the Nat ional Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, better known as the Punchbowl.