Colonel William B. Haidler, Ph.D., USAF, Retired

July 11, 1926 — Aug. 23, 2015

William Bernard Haidler, 89, of Niles, passed away in his home surrounded by his family on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015. He was born on July 11, 1926, in Ann Arbor, Michigan to the late John V. and Rose C. (Dwyer) Haidler. On Sept. 12, 1952, in Medford, Wisconsin Bill married the former Frances Helen Hirt, with whom he celebrated last year the remarkable Sixty-second anniversary of their wedding.

He is survived by his loving wife, Frances and their children, Patricia Ann Haidler of Chino Hills, California, Maria Jean (James) Fox of San José, California, John William (Laurie) Haidler of Pinckney, Michigan, and Robert William (Jill) Haidler of Mandeville, Louisiana as well as their dear grandchildren of whom he was very proud — Joseph and Christine Haidler, Alexander and Ian Fox, Julia and Henry Haidler.

Bill participated in the U.S. Navy V5 Aviation Cadet program in Kalamazoo, Michigan and Ames, Iowa during World War II, after which he entered the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, graduating in 1950. He later earned advanced degrees from North Carolina State University and The University of Arizona. He was also a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force’s Air War College. Colonel Haidler had a 26 year career in the U.S. Air Force with varying assignments throughout the United States and Japan — primarily in engineering, research & development, administration, and education. He was very proud of his time at the U.S. Air Force Academy where he served as Head of the Physics Department. Dr. Haidler’s career also included the position of Assistant to the Director for Research and Development at the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and later as the Dean of Systems and Logistics at the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

His remarkable military career included medals from World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Viet Nam Era, and — by Special Orders of the Department of the Air Force – the Meritorious Service Medal and the Legion of Merit. Having served in Texas, Colorado, Japan, North Carolina, Arizona, Ohio, Maryland, and Alabama, he chose to retire to Michigan. In civilian service, he held positions in Michigan’s university and community college system. He was a member, 1979 president, and a Paul Harris Fellow of the Niles-Buchanan Club of Rotary International, and was a Director of the Economic Club of Southwest Michigan. Bill enjoyed photography, travel, golf, playing bridge, gardening, reading, and teaching.

The Memorial Mass for Bill Haidler will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015, at Saint Thérèse, Little Flower Catholic Church, 54191 Ironwood Road, South Bend, Indiana by the Rev. Thomas R. Shoemaker of the parish. The family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday at the church beginning at 10 a.m.

On Wednesday, the family will gather privately at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, Michigan for Committal Rites as read by Deacon Al Radford of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Battle Creek, Michigan, and Full Military Honors by the United States Air Force Honor Guard and the Fort Custer Volunteer Veterans.

Contributions in memory of Bill Haidler may be made to the Niles-Buchanan YMCA Summer Youth Camp Scholarship Program, 905 Front Street, Niles, MI 49120, or to the Heartland Hospice, 8075 Creekside Drive, Suite 120, Portage, MI 49024. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

www.halbritterfunerals.com