Birth date: Mar 21, 1925 Death date: May 27, 2008
I am so sorry to hear of Dr. ter Haar's passing. One of the best courses I ever took at the University of Iowa was his course on Faust. His great intelligence, strong personality and lashing sense of humour made a strong impression upon me as an undergraduate, and it was always a great pleasure to run into him thereafter, whether about town or at the Xmas Eve service at St. Mary's.
[email protected]##imported-begin##Jennifer Yerkes##imported-end##
My work schedule got mixed up and I am so sorry to have missed the funeral of Dr. ter Haar this morning.
Dr. ter Haar created time and space in his life for me to talk about human rights, deomocratic socialism, gender equity, and how these issues manifest themselves in our daily lives. These conversations were very important to me personally and politically. To know that a learned and experienced person would value my opinion, challenge me to see other perspectives, and to engage in sincere and concerted dialogue helped me grow as a person and as a local elected offical.
The results of these discussions will be with me always. Seems as if Dr. ter Haar touched many lives. Mine included.##imported-begin##Karen Kubby##imported-end##
Mrs. ter Haar,
I was sorry to read of the passing of Professor ter Haar. I took, as an elective, Dutch, and it was an unforgettable cultural experience under a man who lived, suffered, and survived during a momentous era of world history. I would exchange my entire university degree for those four semesters, if I had to.
One day a classmate--a German major--got into a debate with the Professor. She accused him of stereotyping, and he accused her of failing to generalize enough to realize that there is such a thing as national character of a given nation. After class I walked beside her, and she was still fuming. Then suddenly she paused, kind of half smiled, and said, But he's still my favorite professor--the best one I've ever had.
She said it all.
Jim McNeish,
Iowa City##imported-begin##Jim McNeish##imported-end##
I remember Professor ter Haar. He was my professor in the German department. In 1978 I was in Germany and Austria for the Regents Abroad Program and he was a great help to me and always very kind. Not to long ago I talked with him in the Amana Colonies and it was great to see him there. I send my sympathy to the family.##imported-begin##Scarlet Duppong Wilson##imported-end##
I have many fond memories of my years as a German major, and Dr. ter Haar was a big part of my academic life. He was a wonderful teacher. I extend my sympathy to all of you.##imported-begin##Rosie Ronnebaum Russell##imported-end##
Elly:
Now I know why I missed you annual Christmas message. Professor Ken Kuntz called me just moments ago to pass on the sad news. What a wonderful, gifted, thoughtful and caring man you had in your husband. I finished my German major and studied under him as I wrote my master's thesis in 1976. It was largely because of Bernie that I pursued the Ph.D.; all the time he told me how difficult it was to enter the profession and particularly so at the time I sought to achieve that goal. Well, I did not make it as I had hoped, but I will always remember the cherished learning I shared under him; my first career and all its joys. I've moved on through yet a second career and am in my third as a lawyer, but I always longingly will remember the hours I had the pleasure to sit in his classes and to try to absorb all the dollops and waterfalls of knowledge he shared with us all. He was so learned; it was a struggle to take it all in. And yet it was worth every effort to do so. He was a peach of a man, and I'm so very grateful you shared him with us. God keep you and the family in our warm embrace.##imported-begin##Stanley P. Nuehring##imported-end##
Elle.
Carl and I were so sorry to hear about John.Please except our sympathy for your loss.##imported-begin##Carl Zimmerman##imported-end##
Although I only knew John ter Haar briefly after arriving in Iowa as a young assistant professor, I have fond memories of our interactions. He will be missed in the Department of German.##imported-begin##Glenn Ehrstine##imported-end##
Dear Eleanor, Barbara and Paul,
We learned of Bernie's passing while here in Portland, and send our heartfelt sympathy to you.
I have forwarded some thoughts about my years of teaching with Bernie to Lensing, c/o Lisa. Please use or not in any way you see fit. Our prayers are with you this week, and we look forward to seeing you soon after we return, Eleanor. I am so thankful we had our visit with Bernie before I had to leave. I am greatly honored by the family's designating me an honorary pall bearer. With our prayers, Paul and Margaret##imported-begin##Paul and Margaret Heidger##imported-end##
Eleanor, you and I have just met a few times as U Heights residents, but I was a friend and admirer of John. As a religious studies prof. (I'm not related to the priest) who has had need to research in Germany, it was always a delight to speak a few words of German with John (who was ever patient with my pronunciation). Our paths would cross on campus from time to time. A good friend of ours (about 20 years younger than Ruth and I) took a German major here and then did the M.A. under John's direction. He's Stan Nuehring. I intend to ring up Stan this evening to let him know of John's passing. I was also aware that you and John were part of the Oaknoll community (as Ruth and I hope to be in a few years). Ruth sends her good wishes with mine that in the days ahead your good memories of John, your personal faith, and the friendships you have nurtured will help see you through in the days immediately ahead.
Warmly, Ken Kuntz##imported-begin##J. Kenneth Kuntz##imported-end##
