Luther Hahs

M. Luther Hahs, 89, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, May 7, 2008, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center.

He was born April 21, 1919, at Daisy, son of Theodore and Mary Barks Hahs. He and Catherine Elizabeth Schrader were married Nov. 5, 1945, in Cape Girardeau.

Hahs served in the Army Air Corps during World War II as a meteorologist.

He was a charter member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church and served on its board of elders and board of directors and was its first congregational chairman.

Hahs was a prominent local and national inspirational speaker, charter board member of Cape State Bank, past president of Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and winner of its Golden Deeds Award.

He was a math and science teacher at Central High School from 1946 to 1954. He was a member of Executive, Exchange, Toastmasters and Lions clubs, and a past president of Cape Girardeau Jaycees.

Hahs was a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, and received a master's degree in meteorology from California Institute of Technology.

He founded the local district office for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. in 1954 and was a founding member and past president of Cape Girardeau Life Underwriters Association. He was a district agent with Northwestern Mutual until his disabling stroke in 1972.

Hahs was president of Northwestern Mutual District Agents Association, Northwestern Mutual Association of Agents, and a life member of the Million Dollar Round Table.

Following his stroke in 1972 he co-authored a book titled "God, Mommy, Amen" that described his lengthy rehabilitation and return to a near-normal life. Proceeds from the sale of that book have funded the Catherine and Luther Hahs Scholarship at Southeast Missouri State University for speech pathology majors.

He is survived by his wife, Catherine Elizabeth Hahs of Cape Girardeau; a son, David Hahs and wife Candy of Cape Girardeau; a daughter, Martha Kieffer and husband Carl of Cortland, Ill.; a sister, Gladys Deye of Emporia, Kan.; four grandchildren, Brandon Hahs of Columbus, Ind., Clayton Hahs of Jacksonville, Fla., Michael Piazza of Warrenville, Ill., Kara Piazza of Cortland, Ill.; six great-grandchildren, Samuel, Ella, Andrew and Luke Hahs, Hunter and Jayden Smith.

Friends may call at St. Andrew Lutheran Church from 4 to 7 p.m. today.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Paul Short officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to St. Andrew Lutheran Church or Saxony Lutheran High School.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.