Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Farewell, Brother Hafen

Banard Ervin Hafen, a longtime member of the Bloomington 7th Ward, passed peacefully from this earth at home on Thursday, October 25, just a few weeks short of his 91st birthday.  A descendant of John George Hafen, one of the Swiss founders of Santa Clara, Banard was born in Santa Clara but saw the world as a professional athlete (Detroit Lions – 1949 and 1950 seasons), a special agent with the FBI (where he exemplified the motto of "integrity, loyalty and bravery") for more than 21 years.  Before his retirement to St. George in 1982, Banard worked as the Chief Investigator for hotel security for Howard Hughes’ Summa Corporation in Las Vegas.   

Though 90-years-old, he continued to play golf three days a week until August when he decided he had played long enough. Dad shot an 86 in his last game, and his buddies claimed he was quitting before they had a chance to get back all the money they lost to him over the years. A sportswriter once wrote that Banard was "one of the best athletes to ever come out of Southern Utah." A natural in basketball, baseball and football, he started on teams in junior high and high school as well as Dixie Jr. College. Banard went on to the University of Utah and played football and baseball. He was selected to play in the Shriner's East-West College All-Star football game as a junior and senior. In 1940 he joined the National Guard (because "you got a dollar for only showing up once a month"). In March of 1941, his unit was activated and he, along with many other young Dixie men, went to San Luis Obispo for training. While driving back from California he heard about Pearl Harbor on the car radio. By May, 1943 he was in England with the 351st Engineer battalion, then in France until the end of WWII. Upon his return Banard went back to the U of U to finish his schooling and play football. He came home to St. George for Thanksgiving in 1947 where he met Dixie co-ed McVoy Holt on a blind date and were married on June 11, 1948.  McVoy, his wife of 53 years, passed away in 2002 and Banard was visited often by his daughters, Susan Henderson; Sally Tielemans (Anton); Laurie Hafen; Elaine Krause (Curtis); 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.


Congratulations on a beautiful posterity and a life well-lived. Brother Hafen will be missed by those who knew and loved him.

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