Olga Davis Haigler

A family gathering will be held at a later date to celebrate the life of Olga Lillian Davis Haigler who died November 21, 2011.

Olga was born February 28, 1914, near Syracuse in Otoe County, Nebraska, the fourth of six daughters to Orlando Evan Davis and Anna Christina (Bengston) Davis.

She graduated from Syracuse High School in 1932 and earned a teaching certificate from Peru State Normal School.  She taught at District #10 rural school until enrolling in St. Elizabeth School of Nursing in Lincoln, Nebraska.  She completed nurses’ training in 1940 and was appointed to active duty in the Army Nurse Corps as a Second Lieutenant at Camp Joseph T. Robinson in Arkansas.

She married James P. Haigler in 1941.  They were married for 52 years before he preceded her in death December 1993.

In 1945 they moved to Hays, Kansas, where Dr. Haigler practiced medicine for forty years and they raised their three children.  Olga actively participated in P.T.A., Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, P.E.O., S.A.I., St. Anthony Hospital’s Auxiliary, duplicate bridge clubs, sewing club, garden club and the Kansas Medical Society Auxiliary. For more than forty years, she worked in, contributed hand-knit baby items, and helped manage the St. Anthony Hospital gift shop which raised funds for the hospital.  She was also a member of the American Legion, V.F.W., and the First Presbyterian Church in Hays.  Olga moved to the Pioneer Ridge Retirement Community in Lawrence in July, 2005.

Survivors include her three children: one son, James Pierre Haigler, Jr. (wife, Jan), Goodland, KS; two daughters, Judith Ann Krueger (husband, Nelson) and Martha Jane Marples (husband, Doug) both of Lawrence, KS; five grandchildren, Mike Haigler, Laramie, WY, Cindy Haigler, Golden, CO, Jacquie Krueger, Peter Marples and Kate Marples all of Lawrence, KS; and six great grandchildren.  She was also preceded in death by a grandson, Trevor Roy Krueger, and great grandson, Jack Stineman; her parents and five sisters: Barbara Thomson, Dorotha West, Eleanor Janeke, Helen Schavland, and Doris Veinotte.

Memorial contributions may be made to a scholarship Dr. and Mrs. Haigler established at Fort Hays State University Foundation for high school graduates from Ellis County, Kansas, who are pursuing a career in a medical field and may be sent in care of the mortuary.