In Memory Of
Paul Bud Haedike
1925
2024
Paul Bud Haedike
May 30, 1925 — March 22, 2024
Paul “Bud” Conrad Edward Haedike, age 98, of O'Fallon, Missouri passed away on Friday, March 22, 2024. He was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 30, 1925, to Paul and Ida Haedike (nee Struss).
Bud attended Grade School at Concordia Lutheran in Chicago, Illinois. He attended high school at Luther Institute, Chicago, Illinois graduating in 1943. Bud attended Eureka College in Illinois for one year in 1946, but after being in WW II, he realized college was not his thing and he went to work instead. While attending college he would occasionally hitchhike from Eureka to Chicago on weekends to see his girlfriend and future wife, Muriel (a 300-mile round-trip)!
Bud was a lifelong Christian, and was a member of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church since his confirmation in 1939, attending nine different churches.
He served his country during World War II as a Gunnery Sergeant/Togglier in the Army Air Force from 1943-1945. He flew 23 combat missions in B-17 Flying Fortresses at 19 years old, out of Deopham Green, England, & three mercy missions (food drops) to the people of Holland. His aircraft was shot down on his very first mission and they crash-landed in Belgium. The crew returned to their bomb group four days later to continue flying bombing missions.
On June 21, 1947, he married the love of his life, Muriel “Murph” Haedike (nee Wiedbush), and spent almost 73 years together, until she passed away in 2020. After his marriage to Muriel, they started their family in Illinois. A work promotion took Bud and Murph to Minnesota, where they lived until he retired. They spent over fifteen years in Florida before moving to O’Fallon, Missouri ten years ago.
For work, Bud began as a Salesman with SC Johnson & Son in 1949 and was promoted to Area Manager, then Auto Specialist, then District Manager, and lastly, Regional Sales Manager, retiring in 1984 at 59 years old. He had a 35-year career with SCJ and was retired for 40 years!
Bud loved to travel, and most of the time he and his wife, Muriel, took trips to see their children and grandchildren in different states. He loved playing cards and yard games with his family, friends, and grandchildren and had much fun doing so. When he wasn’t traveling or playing games with his family, Bud was probably watching or participating in sports. He played softball for many years and regularly played in church leagues. He loved to swim and was a diver when he was young. He played golf for most of his life, and even went to TopGolf to hit a few in September 2023!
His favorite football teams were the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings, but his baseball allegiances varied throughout the years. First, it was the Chicago Cubs, then the Minnesota Twins, but for the last 15 or so years, he was a big St. Louis Cardinals fan, and he watched as many games as he could! He played the piano and loved to sing, thoroughly enjoying sing-a-longs around the piano or karaoke with friends, family, and loved ones! Frank Sinatra was his favorite singer, and he made sure everyone knew that. Bud was even involved in Clowning for over 40 years, playing clowns and Santas at parties and neighborhood get-togethers.
He enjoyed speaking in schools about WW II, & he was involved in many military organizations directly affiliated with being an airman in the war, and he was proud of being a two-time President of the 452nd Bomb Group. Bud was also very proud of being featured in “The Cold Blue,” a documentary about B-17s and the airmen who flew in them during WW II, and in the last few years, he traveled across the U.S. (Dayton, Savannah, Provo, Boston, Annapolis, Washington, D.C., & Los Angeles) and even to Europe (Belgium & Germany), on trips all directly related in some way to his service in the war.
Bud was very determined, competitive, punctual, organized, and sentimental; but he also loved having fun, and he was usually the charismatic life of the party! But far and away, the most important thing to him in this world was his family, who will all miss him dearly.
Paul “Bud” Haedike is survived by his two sons, Michael Haedike and David (Christy) Haedike; three daughters, Patricia (Kenneth) Freeman, Deborah (Joseph) Mayer, and Sandra Byrd; sixteen grandchildren, Dawn (Rob) Davis, Amy (Jon) Pipho, Aaron (Claire) Haedike, Matthew (Tonia) Freeman, Lisa (Rusty) Parks, Donovan Freeman, Breanna (Derek) Kadlac, JoAnna Haedike, Jennifer (Dave) Chucka, Joey (Bree) Mayer, Leah Byrd, David (Reka) Byrd, Jerome Byrd, Jordan (Connor Stark) Haedike, Caleb (Paige Ellis) Haedike, Hannah (Aden) Haedike-Swift; twenty-eight great-grandchildren, Robbie Davis, Rhiannon Davis, Ambria Pipho, Jacob Pipho, Jackson Pipho, Nathan Haedike, Ethan Haedike, Isaac Haedike, Taylor (Amber Chavez) Freeman, Marcus Freeman, Reilly Parks, Katy Parks, Charlotte Parks, Zoey Freeman, Madeline Kadlac, Emerson Kadlac, Owen Kadlac, Ryder Small, Aubree Haedike, Charlie Haedike, Zachary Chucka, Olivia Chucka, Vivien Mayer, Emmi Mayer, Eriq Byrd, Bryson Byrd, Baylor Byrd, Oliver Stark; one great-great-grandchild, Emari Byrd; sister-in-law, Joyce Plinke; brother-in-law, Howard Kraegel; and a host of other family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Muriel Haedike; parents, Paul and Ida Haedike; sister, Doris (Howard) Kraegel; brother, Ray Haedike; brother-in-law, Thomas Plinke; daughter, Kathleen Haedike; four grandchildren, Krista Mayer, Nikki Mayer, Jessica Mayer, and Jaimee Haedike.
Public visitation will be held from 10:30 am until 11:30 am with a memorial service immediately following at Zion Lutheran Church, located at 3866 Old Hwy 94 S, St Charles, MO 63304. Immediately following the services, we will begin our procession to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery where we will have our Military Honors and Burial service at 2:00 pm. The family invites guests back to Zion Lutheran Church for a luncheon and reception from 3:00 pm until 5:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Mid-America Veterans Museum (MAVM), formerly the St. Charles County Veterans Museum, in Bud Haedike’s name. It is located at 410 E Elm St, O’Fallon, MO, and the telephone number is: (636) 294-2657.
To share a memory of Paul or leave a special message for his family, please click the Share Memories button above.
Bud attended Grade School at Concordia Lutheran in Chicago, Illinois. He attended high school at Luther Institute, Chicago, Illinois graduating in 1943. Bud attended Eureka College in Illinois for one year in 1946, but after being in WW II, he realized college was not his thing and he went to work instead. While attending college he would occasionally hitchhike from Eureka to Chicago on weekends to see his girlfriend and future wife, Muriel (a 300-mile round-trip)!
Bud was a lifelong Christian, and was a member of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church since his confirmation in 1939, attending nine different churches.
He served his country during World War II as a Gunnery Sergeant/Togglier in the Army Air Force from 1943-1945. He flew 23 combat missions in B-17 Flying Fortresses at 19 years old, out of Deopham Green, England, & three mercy missions (food drops) to the people of Holland. His aircraft was shot down on his very first mission and they crash-landed in Belgium. The crew returned to their bomb group four days later to continue flying bombing missions.
On June 21, 1947, he married the love of his life, Muriel “Murph” Haedike (nee Wiedbush), and spent almost 73 years together, until she passed away in 2020. After his marriage to Muriel, they started their family in Illinois. A work promotion took Bud and Murph to Minnesota, where they lived until he retired. They spent over fifteen years in Florida before moving to O’Fallon, Missouri ten years ago.
For work, Bud began as a Salesman with SC Johnson & Son in 1949 and was promoted to Area Manager, then Auto Specialist, then District Manager, and lastly, Regional Sales Manager, retiring in 1984 at 59 years old. He had a 35-year career with SCJ and was retired for 40 years!
Bud loved to travel, and most of the time he and his wife, Muriel, took trips to see their children and grandchildren in different states. He loved playing cards and yard games with his family, friends, and grandchildren and had much fun doing so. When he wasn’t traveling or playing games with his family, Bud was probably watching or participating in sports. He played softball for many years and regularly played in church leagues. He loved to swim and was a diver when he was young. He played golf for most of his life, and even went to TopGolf to hit a few in September 2023!
His favorite football teams were the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings, but his baseball allegiances varied throughout the years. First, it was the Chicago Cubs, then the Minnesota Twins, but for the last 15 or so years, he was a big St. Louis Cardinals fan, and he watched as many games as he could! He played the piano and loved to sing, thoroughly enjoying sing-a-longs around the piano or karaoke with friends, family, and loved ones! Frank Sinatra was his favorite singer, and he made sure everyone knew that. Bud was even involved in Clowning for over 40 years, playing clowns and Santas at parties and neighborhood get-togethers.
He enjoyed speaking in schools about WW II, & he was involved in many military organizations directly affiliated with being an airman in the war, and he was proud of being a two-time President of the 452nd Bomb Group. Bud was also very proud of being featured in “The Cold Blue,” a documentary about B-17s and the airmen who flew in them during WW II, and in the last few years, he traveled across the U.S. (Dayton, Savannah, Provo, Boston, Annapolis, Washington, D.C., & Los Angeles) and even to Europe (Belgium & Germany), on trips all directly related in some way to his service in the war.
Bud was very determined, competitive, punctual, organized, and sentimental; but he also loved having fun, and he was usually the charismatic life of the party! But far and away, the most important thing to him in this world was his family, who will all miss him dearly.
Paul “Bud” Haedike is survived by his two sons, Michael Haedike and David (Christy) Haedike; three daughters, Patricia (Kenneth) Freeman, Deborah (Joseph) Mayer, and Sandra Byrd; sixteen grandchildren, Dawn (Rob) Davis, Amy (Jon) Pipho, Aaron (Claire) Haedike, Matthew (Tonia) Freeman, Lisa (Rusty) Parks, Donovan Freeman, Breanna (Derek) Kadlac, JoAnna Haedike, Jennifer (Dave) Chucka, Joey (Bree) Mayer, Leah Byrd, David (Reka) Byrd, Jerome Byrd, Jordan (Connor Stark) Haedike, Caleb (Paige Ellis) Haedike, Hannah (Aden) Haedike-Swift; twenty-eight great-grandchildren, Robbie Davis, Rhiannon Davis, Ambria Pipho, Jacob Pipho, Jackson Pipho, Nathan Haedike, Ethan Haedike, Isaac Haedike, Taylor (Amber Chavez) Freeman, Marcus Freeman, Reilly Parks, Katy Parks, Charlotte Parks, Zoey Freeman, Madeline Kadlac, Emerson Kadlac, Owen Kadlac, Ryder Small, Aubree Haedike, Charlie Haedike, Zachary Chucka, Olivia Chucka, Vivien Mayer, Emmi Mayer, Eriq Byrd, Bryson Byrd, Baylor Byrd, Oliver Stark; one great-great-grandchild, Emari Byrd; sister-in-law, Joyce Plinke; brother-in-law, Howard Kraegel; and a host of other family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Muriel Haedike; parents, Paul and Ida Haedike; sister, Doris (Howard) Kraegel; brother, Ray Haedike; brother-in-law, Thomas Plinke; daughter, Kathleen Haedike; four grandchildren, Krista Mayer, Nikki Mayer, Jessica Mayer, and Jaimee Haedike.
Public visitation will be held from 10:30 am until 11:30 am with a memorial service immediately following at Zion Lutheran Church, located at 3866 Old Hwy 94 S, St Charles, MO 63304. Immediately following the services, we will begin our procession to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery where we will have our Military Honors and Burial service at 2:00 pm. The family invites guests back to Zion Lutheran Church for a luncheon and reception from 3:00 pm until 5:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Mid-America Veterans Museum (MAVM), formerly the St. Charles County Veterans Museum, in Bud Haedike’s name. It is located at 410 E Elm St, O’Fallon, MO, and the telephone number is: (636) 294-2657.
To share a memory of Paul or leave a special message for his family, please click the Share Memories button above.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Paul Bud Haedike, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Friday, May 3, 2024
10:30 - 11:30 am (Central time)
Zion Lutheran Church
Service
Friday, May 3, 2024
Starts at 11:30 am (Central time)
Zion Lutheran Church
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