Charlotte Shopping Guide
Eva T. Veeder Haskell VanAken, age 98, died Wednesday, August 26, 1998 at the St. Lawrence/Dimondale Facility. Eva was the youngest of three daughters born to Willard and Mary Veeder on December 20, 1899.
Her early years were spent in Mt. Pleasant and Clare, Michigan, where she graduated from high school and received a life certificate from Central Michigan Normal School. After three years of teaching in Owosso she married Gerald F. Haskell and they moved to Lansing where he started practicing law and she became a buyer and manager of several departments at Sprowl Brothers. In 1938 they moved to Eaton Rapids where they remodeled an old farmhouse and became “City Farmers”. In 1941 Steven Thomas and Barbara Jean became their son and daughter and Eva was busy raising a family. She became active in 4-H and Extension clubs. In 1956 Eva started teaching in the Eaton Rapids Public Schools and completed her education at Michigan State University where she received a B.A. Degree in education. She taught the fourth grade in Eaton Rapids for eleven years before retiring in 1967.
After her retirement she became active in community affairs. She was a starter member of the Eaton Rapids Retired Teacher’s Club, became an honorary member of the Hospital Auxiliary, a Life member of E.R.C.H., a member of the U & I Club for over 20 years and belonged to several bridge clubs and the L.L. Club. She was a friend of the First United Methodist Church and a member of the Miriam Circle. Her husband Gerald F. Haskell of 41 years passed away on September 20, 1966.
Surviving from this marriage is one son, Steven T. (Shirley) Haskell of Lansing; and daughter, Barbara Jean (Leo) Haskell Jones of Columbia, Tennessee; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; plus 6 step great-grandchildren.
In 1969 she married Herbert M. VanAken and they lived in her home until his death in 1977.
Surviving from this marriage are seven stepchildren, Elaine (Jerry) Cowan of Okemos; Alice (Claude) Bonta of Roscommon; Herbert K. (Barbara) VanAken of Eaton Rapids; Charles (Barbara) VanAken of Eaton Rapids; Dorothy (Merlin) Spitzbergen of Oakland; John (Adrienne) VanAken of Lompoc, CA; and Ruth Ann (Jamie) Abbott of Nepean Ontario, Canada; 24 step-grandchildren; numerous step great-grandchildren; three nieces, Marjorie Jean Derby of Ithaca, Pat (Vic) Stapleton of Ithaca, Mary Lou (Dick) Schneckenberger of Charlotte; one nephew, Wayne (Lynn) Terwilliger of St. Paul, MN; and numerous great-nieces and nephews.