Amelia Haller's Obituary
Amelia Jane Haller Born October 25, 1927, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family on October 6, 2010. She was born and grew up on a farm in Todd County, Minnesota and at 14 she moved to Washington. In 1945 she met her husband Max Ray Haller. Amelia taught poetry and creative writing at numerous places including colleges, community centers, poetry organizations and performed poetry readings throughout Washington State. She was president and board member of Washington State Poets Assn., Tacoma Writers Club, the Distinguished Writer Series, Poet Crafters and was awarded recipient of the National League of Penn Women. She published eight award winning books of poetry, participated in the groundbreaking of the Chinese Reconciliation Park and her poem, "Dedication", is etched into glass at the Union Station Trolley Stop in downtown Tacoma, and she was awarded the 2008 Margaret K. Williams Arts Awards, presented by the Pierce County Arts Commission. She was also a lifelong member of the Old Time Fiddlers Assn. She will be missed by poets throughout the state and by her family which consists of her husband of 65 years Max Haller, eight children: Pamela (Haller) Rang, Larry Haller, Richy Haller, Cathy (Haller) Jacobson, and Randy Haller. Two children preceded her in death, Patrick Haller and Christine Haller. She has thirteen grandchildren, twenty-five great grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren. A heartfelt thank you to the Hospice team of Multicare. Memorial Services Wednesday, October 13, 2010, 2:00 PM at Mountain View's Celebration of Life Building.
"Poetry Goddess of Tacoma Dies"
by Sara Schilling, Staff Writer
from The News Tribune 10/10/2010
Amelia Haller's critiques were as gentle as her disposition. She'd offer aspiring poets in her classes encouragement. Then she'd suggest a different word, a different way of looking at the work to make it better. -Å"She'd always tell you something positive. Then she'd say, -ËœWhat if you tried this?'- said Connie Walle, president of the Puget Sound Poetry Connection. -Å"She was a very gentle teacher, but a very good teacher. I learned a lot from her.- She's not the only one. Countless Puget Sound writers learned the art of poetry from Haller, a Minnesota native who became an integral part of Washington's writing community -" with a long list of awards, accomplishments and former students who say she inspired them. Haller, 82, died Wednesday at her Tacoma home surrounded by family. She was raised on a farm and studied in a one-room schoolhouse through eighth grade. She moved to Washington as a teen and in 1945 met her future husband, Max Haller. They were married 65 years. Haller, who also played guitar with the Old Time Fiddlers' Association, published several books of poetry and performed readings throughout the state. Her writing was vivid, transporting, Walle said. Sometimes she spun lighthearted tales of her childhood, or wrote of birds or music. Other times her writing was more serious. -Å"I remember her writing a poem one time about living in an apartment where the neighbor was abusing his wife. You could hear the voices through the paper, you could see the wallpaper shake,- Walle said. Haller, who was active with the Tacoma Writers Club and other writing groups, made time to mentor young writers, teaching classes at colleges and community centers. -Å"Amelia was the poetry goddess of Tacoma: Queen of the sonnet, the villanelle, the ghazal, the ballad, alphabet poems, elegies, haiku -" she brought them all to us like exquisite little treats, sometimes exotic, sometimes scary,- wrote former student Deborah Miranda in a letter supporting Haller's nomination for a Pierce County Arts Commission award, which she won in 2008. Miranda, who went on to become a published poet and writing professor, wrote that Haller inspired her students to overcome their fears and -Å"exceed our own expectations.- Lenard Eccles of Tacoma, who met Haller in 1991 through the Tacoma Writers Club, considered the poet a mentor and friend. He looked to her for advice on his work and felt flattered when she asked his opinion of hers. -Å"Her poetry was just outstanding. There wasn't a whole lot you could say except, -ËœCan I have a copy of that?'- he said. Eccles said he's saved the critiques Haller made of his writing and looks over them for inspiration and direction. -Å"I hope someday -" and I'm 75 -" that I'll be almost as good as she was,- he said. Haller's survivors include her husband and children Pamela Rang, Larry Haller, Richy Haller, Cathy Jacobson and Randy Haller; 13 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren. Children Patrick Haller and Christine Haller died previously. A memorial service is set for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Mountain View Celebration of Life Center, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd. S.W., Tacoma.
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