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Michael A. Haverkamp

Laredo, Texas

03/09/1958 - 06/25/2020

Michael Alan Haverkamp, age 62, of Laredo, Texas, formerly of Baileyville, Kansas died unexpectedly at his father’s house north of Baileyville on the afternoon of June 25, 2020, while home visiting with family to attend a family event the weekend before.

Michael Alan Haverkamp was born in the Seneca Hospital on March 9, 1958 to Aloysius H. Haverkamp Jr and Janet B. (Wiedmaier) Haverkamp of Baileyville, KS. He was the eldest of seven children.

Michael attended Baileyville Elementary School, and graduated from B&B High School in Baileyville, KS in May 1976 and was an honor roll student. During High School he participated in several contests sponsored by the Kansas State University College of Engineering which were judged by the Engineering Department during the annual Spring Open House.   Additionally, he competed in mathematics competitions at Creighton University while in high school.   His interest in engineering began at an early age working on the family farm with his father and brothers learning how engines and machinery worked as they maintained and rebuilt equipment as necessary in the farming business.

He was a State of Kansas scholar and received scholarships to attend Kansas State University graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in May 1981. As an undergraduate he worked as a teaching assistant for a professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department grading papers and other duties as necessary. Michael also worked for engineering-related companies each summer following his freshman year through his junior year until he graduated. The first of these summer jobs was in the area of drafting and as he progressed through his coursework, he was given increasingly more challenging opportunities during these summer jobs with various companies in northeast & central Kansas. These jobs provided him with the opportunity to learn more about the field of engineering in addition to earning money to help pay for his academic studies. In addition to studying Mechanical Engineering, Michael had taken courses in Electrical Engineering and Geology. Upon graduating with his Mechanical Engineering degree Michael went to work for Schlumberger Oil Well Services as a Field Engineer for twelve years from May 1981 through June 1993, in Barlottesville, OK, Wharton, TX, Brenham, TX, and Laredo, TX. During his time with Schlumberger, Michael progressed with the company earning promotions and taking on more responsibility managing crews at various oil well drilling sites. While working for Schlumberger he authored several patents for the company; and in later years stated that he would have put his name on the patents if he had ever envisioned them being used for any other purpose other than the oil & gas industry as one of his patents was later used in the discovery of the Titanic.

After leaving Schlumberger, Michael started his own business “SunLight Metal Works Sheet Metal Fabrication” in Laredo, TX. He would occasionally joke that when you own your own business some days, you’re the President and other days the janitor and everything in between. He sold, designed, crafted, and installed high-quality custom metalwork for commercial businesses, historical district properties, and high-end residential homes for real estate developers.

From a young child Michael has always enjoyed playing various board games, cards, and reading everything from fiction to American & world history, and geology. There wasn’t a topic that he wasn’t able to converse about with anyone and just recently had an in depth conversation about music and the most obscure time signatures of songs such as “Chet Aktins and Boots Randolph – Yakkety Sax” and other songs which were extremely difficult to play due to the speed and accuracy necessary to excel in playing these songs. Music is based upon mathematics which was something he was passionate about.

Michael was an avid sports fan following K-State basketball, and football, and was a season ticket holder attending these events regularly with his friends while in college. And in later years he enjoyed discussing the games with his mother over the phone since she never missed a K-State or KU broadcast on the radio.   Some of his siblings followed in his footsteps attending K-State and pursuing degrees of their own. He eagerly took them under his guidance showing them the ropes as they navigated the first few weeks of the freshman year. For a brief period of time several of them lived together off campus and would get together with mutual friends participating in Pentẽ tournaments and other campus events.

Michael was always happy, with a smile on his face, a quick wit, jovial personality, laughter, and had a way of telling a joke and weaving a story that would draw everyone in. He was always willing to help everyone; didn’t know a stranger and he was at ease talking to everyone he met; and was the life of any party.

Michael married after moving to Laredo and has two children Janet Michele a BS in Biology , and Michael Jeffrey. When his children were small Michael taught them how to perform complex mathematical calculations in their heads and also taught them to strategize letter combinations in Scrabble to maximize their points. Michael also designed a custom home and drew up the blueprints which he had built for his family in Laredo. The company who built his house wanted him to design custom homes for them as they integrated his ideas into their homes.

Michael was preceded in death by his mother Janet Haverkamp in March 2019.

He is survived by a daughter, Janet Michele Haverkamp, and son, Michael Jeffrey Haverkamp both of Laredo, TX; his father, Al Haverkamp of Baileyville, Kansas; his siblings: Diane Haverkamp, of St. Charles, Missouri; David and Susan (Stotts) of Springville, Iowa; Timothy and Christine (Ideus) Haverkamp of Lincoln, Nebraska; Jolene and David Jacobson of Union, Kentucky, Brian Haverkamp of Baileyville, Kansas; and Kristi Haverkamp of Chandler, Arizona; and 6 nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be left in Michael’s memory to the American Heart Association or left in care of the family yet to be decided at a later time.

A rosary will be prayed at 7 P.M. on Thursday, July 2, 2020 at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, Kansas.

The Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, July 3, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville.

A rosary will be prayed at 7 P.M. on Thursday, July 2, 2020 at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, Kansas.

The Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, July 3, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville.

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35 Comments

  1. Doug Brown on June 26, 2020 at 8:34 pm

    I am so sorry to hear of Mike’s passing. My thoughts go out to his daughters, his Dad, and all his siblings I have been privileged to know since we intersected at KSU. My heartfelt sympathy to all those who are missing him, as I am now. He is in gentle hands now and with his Mom.

    I am beyond words in the loss I’m feeling, which pales in comparison to yours.

    • Doug Brown on June 29, 2020 at 5:05 pm

      Correction: My thoughts go to his daughter and son. My apologies.

      • Diane Haverkamp (Michael's sister) on December 9, 2020 at 6:23 pm

        Thank you Doug.

  2. Robert Koelzer on June 29, 2020 at 10:29 am

    Sorry to hear of Mike’s passing. Condolences and prayers to his daughters and the rest of his family at this time.

  3. Denise and Greg Deters on June 29, 2020 at 1:44 pm

    Our Deepest Sympathy to Mike’s daughters, his father Al and his siblings. Such a shock and so young.

  4. Jolene Jacobson on June 30, 2020 at 9:22 am

    I am so sad for my brother’s passing. He was so funny and interesting to talk with because he loved science and nature programs on PBS. He loved organizing games at our family gatherings with cards or long rounds of board games. He was the one who taught us how to play all the games when we were little kids. He will be missed by his dad, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and children.

  5. David Jacobson on June 30, 2020 at 9:49 am

    Mike was fun to hangout with because he knew something about just about everything. He was funny and always had a joke or two to tell.

    He was very proud of his work and always had pictures of his latest projects to share. Many businesses will have his work as a cornerstone of their buildings for many decades to come because his workmanship was second to none and complex geometric calculations were his jam.

    I will miss him.

  6. Patricia Anthony on June 30, 2020 at 2:21 pm

    My condolences to Mike’s family. He was excited about studying engineering and his future when we met in college.

    • Diane Haverkamp (Michael's sister) on December 9, 2020 at 6:22 pm

      Thank you Patricia.

  7. Emily Jacobson on June 30, 2020 at 8:50 pm

    I am so sad for my uncle’s passing. He was always fun to be around and ready to play card games with us. He will be missed by our whole family.

  8. Jennifer Jacobson on July 1, 2020 at 7:14 pm

    Uncle mike always had plenty of jokes and interesting tidbits. I am sad for his passing. He will be missed by his family.

  9. Justin jacobson on July 1, 2020 at 7:41 pm

    Uncle Mike was intelligent and fun to be around and he always had interesting stories to tell. He always one how to bring joy to a room. He will be missed by our family.

  10. Steve Spillman on July 1, 2020 at 8:28 pm

    Sorry for your loss, would not have expected to see him leave this early. Met him through Dave and some social events like games where I normally got beat at college, good times. He was good to talk with and always a fresh perspective.

  11. David Fitkin on July 1, 2020 at 9:50 pm

    Really sorry for your loss. Knew Mike through his brother David (while we both worked at Rockwell Collins), I did some computer stuff with him years ago. I always envied his entrepreneurship and engineering ingenuity. He was a great guy and will surely be missed by all.

  12. David Haverkamp on July 1, 2020 at 11:06 pm

    going to miss my brother. No one can replace his quick wit. Who else understood what an Amiga was? Now when I have a difficult repair job at home especially something mechanical or electrical who will I ask. When computers were expensive he gave me options to have a cheap Linux computer. Although the motherboards had a heat problem with one of the components. We figured out how to make a heat sink and repair the motherboards. I lost track of the power strips I hacked to put varistors in to make cheap surge suppressors.
    I’m sure I’ll remember more things his sage advice or quick wit lightened my day as time passes.
    Dave

  13. John Couchman on July 2, 2020 at 8:56 am

    My sincere condolences to Mike’s family, children and siblings. I have many fond memories of time shared with Mike on the same residence hall floor at KSU. There, I also had the privilege of meeting his dad and brother David. Mike always had a smile and was always willing to lend a helping hand. I value the friendship that we had. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.

    • Diane Haverkamp (Michael's sister) on December 9, 2020 at 6:22 pm

      Thank you John.

  14. John Bartholomew on July 2, 2020 at 1:58 pm

    I was shocked when Dave phoned me that Mike had passed. I could tell that Dave will certainly miss his conversations with him. While at K-State, I had interactions with several of Mike’s brothers and sisters, and visited the family home during one Christmas break. My thoughts and prayers are with each family member during this time.

    • Diane Haverkamp (Michael's sister) on December 9, 2020 at 6:27 pm

      Thank you John.

  15. Quinn Haverkamp on July 2, 2020 at 2:12 pm

    I am saddened to see uncle mike pass so soon after I’ve been able to meet him in such a long time. He always had the entrepreneurial attitude to life living up to his dream of running his own company and while I’m sad that he has passed so abruptly I’m glad to have met him for the short time that I did.

  16. Nathan Jacobson on July 2, 2020 at 5:34 pm

    I was sad to hear of Uncle Mike’s passing. It was always fun to play cards with him whenever we saw him. He will be missed by his family

  17. Kristi Haverkamp on July 3, 2020 at 10:49 am

    I will miss my brother Michael. He had a quick wit and was always ready with a laugh or a goofy joke. He loved organizing family game sessions and was usually the one winning. One of my favorite memories was when I was 5 or 6 and he’d gone away to college to study mechanical engineering. At the time, I was convince the only kind of engineer was a train engineer. He delighted in playing along and bought himself a striped denim engineer’s cap and denim overalls and would wear his engineer’s outfit every time he came home to visit and tell me all the things he was learning about trains. His influence was one of the things that later led me to choose to study electrical engineering myself and seek a career in engineering. Rest in peace.

  18. Gilbert Wiedmaier on July 3, 2020 at 2:52 pm

    Gilbert Wiedmaier Sorry for your loss my sympathy

  19. Kim on July 3, 2020 at 3:08 pm

    To my Haverkamp family-

    I am so sorry for the loss of your son, brother, my cousin. Please know that you are all in our thought and prayers during this difficult time.

  20. Nver davtian on July 12, 2020 at 11:54 pm

    from far Land Of Armenia My condolences to Mike’s family. I will miss my friend Michael (Tiwaz)

    • Dave on July 29, 2020 at 10:34 am

      Nver, Just wondering if you’d post a little detail on how you know/knew Mike.
      Thanks from the Family.

  21. Brenda Haverkamp on August 1, 2020 at 4:40 pm

    To Uncle Al, Cousins Diane, David, Tim, Jolene, Brian, Kristi, and all the grand kids,
    I was shocked to hear of Mike’s sudden passing. However, I’m grateful I had the opportunity to get reacquainted with Mike and those of you living further away, not so long ago. In reading about Mike, it’s clear he lived life to the fullest. I found “he didn’t know a stranger…was at ease talking to everyone” to definitely be my experience too. I feel blessed to now also have this memory.
    I also enjoyed reading the family comments recounting many delightful stories. May these memories continue to bring you peace and comfort now and in the days to come. You are all lovely and well deserving!

  22. Nver Davtian on August 9, 2020 at 12:53 am

    Hi dave, i live in los angeles but im armeian from armenia. i know mike last 10-12 years from game that we play. he help me many time and i respect him, he was a good man, i learn many good tinks from mike.
    My condolences

    • Dave on August 18, 2020 at 3:23 pm

      Thanks Nver. We will miss Mike.

  23. Lawrence E Todd on November 8, 2020 at 10:04 pm

    I was also in the same war game as Nver and Mike. I will say that I was devastated by his death as I talked or chatter with him daily. His team mates like Nver and myself felt his loss greatly but it was felt even by our “enemies” in the war game who also respected him. I am happy that i got to call him a friend or many years.

    • David Haverkamp on November 26, 2020 at 4:30 pm

      What war game is it that you were playing with Mike. I know he enjoyed strategy games.
      Thanks,
      David, Mike’s brother.

  24. Brenda Roberson-Schaffer on December 4, 2020 at 8:38 pm

    We were so sad to read of Mike’s passing in the K-Stater. We shared many fun times on the 7th floor in Moore Hall at KSU.

    Many blessings to all of you!

    Vernon and Brenda (Roberson) Schaffer

    • David Haverkamp on December 9, 2020 at 2:23 pm

      Thanks Brenda. Hope you and Vernon are doing well.
      Dave

    • Diane Haverkamp (Michael's sister) on December 9, 2020 at 6:26 pm

      Thank you Brenda. I remember meeting you on various occasions; and Michael spoke of both you & Vernon different times over the years. He had fond memories of Moore Hall.

  25. Daniel Dickson on August 10, 2021 at 10:48 pm

    It has taken me too long to come to terms with the passing of Mike i am saddened every time I think of it.. As stated above, I played a game called “Evony” with Mike (Tiwaz) along with Lawrence and Nver. I can so so many things about Mike that the list would go on and on. He was a great man and a huge part of my life. I would consider him a father figure to me as I never had one growing up. I have continued to play the game in honor of him. I do greatly miss the 3 AM phone calls from him telling me my computer is offline or the random calls during the day to let me know I’m under attack. Not a day goes by where I don’t scroll back through our skype messages and reminisce in the days with him. I truly had no one closer to me than him. One day I will meet him again.

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