Obituary of Albert E. Haller

Albert E. Haller, age 93, of Fort Atkinson, passed away on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at the Black Hawk Senior Residence. �Albert Haller attributes his lifelong dedication to athletics to his boyhood membership in� the Milwaukee Turner Athletic club.� In 1933, he set the Wisconsin High School state record in the pole vault that won for him an athletic scholarship to the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Haller he was a four-year champion in the Big Ten Conference, and briefly held the world's record at 14'6".� Fifty years after setting the state record, Haller competed in the 1983 Wisconsin Indoor Masters Track and Field Senior Olympics meet and won the 60-yard dash and the 220-yard dash.�� For many years he participated in track and field in regional and national Senior Olympics, winning five gold medals in 1986 and three gold medals in 1991, at age 75. �Al Haller was born January 5, 1916 in Milwaukee, WI, the son of David and Mary Haller.� On June 16, 1941 he married Pauline Elbert who preceded him in death in 1999. He received a degree in agricultural economics from the University of Wisconsin and started his career managing 1,000 acres of sweet corn and peas for a large canning company.� Haller organized the first "pig hatchery" in the 1950's which is now the Wisconsin Feeder Pig Co-op.� He and Pauline moved to Fort Atkinson in 1958 where he worked first for The Highsmith Co. developing new products to use as agricultural sales premiums.� Haller worked the final 20 years of his career for Nasco, where he organized and directed the firm's research and development department. His accomplishments included inventing a livestock tape, an odorless replacement for formaldehyde, and extremely lifelike simulators for teaching nursing and medical procedures.� He also established techniques to domestically rear Nasco's African clawed frogs, thereby contributing to the preservation of native species. �Haller had many, varied interests including bird watching, reading, bicycling, cross country skiing and skate sailing.� He was a talented artist who won top prizes in art contests at Fort Atkinson's Hoard Museum.� An avid sailor, he built four boats, including a 22-foot trimaran that he sailed off the shore of their home on Lake Koshkonong.� �An active community member, Al Haller served for six years as a member and eventually president of the school board for the Fort Atkinson School District, strongly advocating for girl's interscholastic sports programs. In 1992, the second annual Fort Atkinson Science Fair was dedicated to Haller in recognition of his contributions to education and his successful career in research.� �Al Haller is survived by his daughters Penny Shackelford (Gary Shackelford), Milton, WI and Sandy Olsen (Nils Olsen), Youngstown, NY; four grandchildren, Lisa Shackelford (Eduardo Larenas), Miami,� Holden Olsen, Phoenix,� Philip Olsen (Carissa Perez), Seattle, WA. and Breta Olsen, Youngstown, NY;� and two great grandchildren, Isabel and Sofia Larenas. �Visitation for Al Haller will be from 10:00 -11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 314 Barrie St., Fort Atkinson on Monday, April 27, 2009. A memorial service will begin at 11:00.� Lunch will be served at the church. �Memorial donations may be directed in Al Haller's name to:� Trinity Lutheran Church; Natural Resources Foundation-Fair Meadows State Natural Area Fund, P.O. Box 2317 Madison, WI. 53701; Jefferson County Humane Society,� W6510 Kiesling Rd., Jefferson, WI 53549; or to HospiceCare Inc. 5395� E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711 www.hospicecareinc.com. The Nitardy Funeral Home, Fort Atkinson is assisting the family,