Norman "Buzz" Hass

Norman “Buzz” Hass age 90 of Rock Rapids, IA died Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at the Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital in Rock Rapids, IA.

A Celebration of Life will be Thursday, November 6, 2025, at Peace Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., with a brief time of reflection and memories beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Buzz was the second child and only son born to Elmer and Elsie Hass on March 4, 1935, on the home farm near Doon, Iowa. He attended grade school at Garfield #5 and graduated from Doon High School in 1953. He attended Iowa State College in Ames for 2 years, but what he really wanted to do was farm.

On June 26, 1955, he married Marilyn Petrich. They had three children: Joni, Janice, and James. Buzz farmed with his father and Uncle Rob for 10 years before taking over the farm upon his dad’s retirement.

Buzz was a strong proponent of soil conservation and was the 1993 Regional Award Winner from the Lyon County Soil and Water Conservation District.

He and Marilyn were members of the Doon Congregational Church, where he served on the board, sang in the choir and in the men’s quartet.

Buzz was also active as a Garfield Township trustee, board member of the Iowa State Experimental Farm, served as the Central Lyon School Board President and on the Lyon County Soil Conservation Board. The family was named, “The 1976 FHA Family of the Year”.

He was also active in adult sports leagues including bowling, baseball, softball and golf. He achieved 4 holes-in-one.

Buzz retired from farming in 1997. He and Marilyn moved to Rock Rapids in 2000. They wintered in Arizona for 23 years.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; daughters, Joni Brooks and Jan (Bruce) Vogel, and son, Jamie (Janine) Hass; seven grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; and a niece and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents’; two sisters, Lila (Cornie) Brower and Jodene (Chuck) Hanson; and one grandchild.

In lieu of flowers, memorials will be directed to the Lyon County Soil and Water Conservation District.