Obituary of Janet Robinson Haag

Janet Kay Robinson Haag of Olympia, Washington, passed away on August 14, 2020, at Olympia St. Peter Hospital.  A great-great-granddaughter of Washington pioneer, Michael T. Simmons, Janet was born to Jason and Frances Robinson on November 23, 1937, in Seattle Washington. 

 

On March 2, 1963, Janet married “the best-looking guy in town,” Roger Haag, also of Olympia.  Two children were born to them, Kandi Lee and David Roger. She often referred to their growing up years as the greatest part of her life.

 

An avid world traveler, writer, poet, and amateur genealogist, Janet’s desire from childhood was to experience an African safari. In 1998, she hired a highly-recommended British guide, a long-time owner of a Nairobi tour company. She then flew alone to Kenya for the most exciting adventure of her life. With his camp help, she and her guide spent three weeks in some of the most remote areas of the country. Janet wrote and self-published a book on her Kenya adventure, titled, “Kwaheri, Mama!” A few years later, she wrote a second book, “Tell Everyone in America Hello!” detailing many of her other travel adventures. The title was taken from a shout-out to her by a 100-year-old Kenya tribesman Janet met in his home village. She was the first American he’d ever seen.

 

Roger often joined Janet on her many adventures, but when he wasn’t available, a friend or two eagerly went along. Her travel destinations with Roger included Scandinavia, the British Isles, Northern Ireland, Iceland, Mexico, the Caribbean; plus many Baltic Sea countries, including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Denmark, Poland and Estonia. Janet also traveled twice to Africa, to Brazil, Argentina and Western Europe.

 

While living in Hawaii prior to her marriage, Janet once climbed Diamondhead in Waikiki with her Swedish roommate, not realizing it was illegal at the time.  Fortunately they “escaped the eye of the law.” Other experiences included being accidentally locked in an outdoor privy on Italy’s Mediterranean coast (“…screaming like a stray peacock at a seagull convention!”); a hot air balloon flight over the vast African savannah; her tent being peed on by a hippo in Kenya’s Samburu territory; teaching the game of Yahtzee to Samburu warriors; a ride in a cable car to the top of Rio de Janeiro’s Corcovado Mountain where she stood at the feet of the famed statue of Christ the Redeemer; and, with her sister Nancy, an amazing journey to Sweden to meet distant relatives discovered through genealogy. It was September 2001, and they were stranded there for an extra week due to the terrorist attacks on the United States.   

 

Janet’s work experience included many years as a floral designer; publicity director for a Hollywood recording company; chief hostess for the former Golden Lion Restaurant in Seattle’s Olympic Hotel; front desk employee at the Reef Hotel on Waikiki Beach; and 25 years as a Legislative Aide for several members of the Washington State House of Representatives and the Washington State Senate. She retired in 2011from the office of Senator Jim Honeyford, described by her as “a highly-respected man of integrity.” On her retirement, the Senator surprised Janet by presenting a tribute to her on the Senate Floor in the form of a Senate Resolution, co-sponsored by Senator Karen Fraser.

 

A frequent community volunteer, Janet originated the logo for the then-newly-formed Tumwater Chamber of Commerce:  “Tumwater --Where It All Began.” She also originated the idea for the first-ever Duck Dash at Tumwater Falls Park, as a fundraiser for the Tumwater Chamber of Commerce (it later became a major fundraiser for local Rotarians).  At the request of then-Tumwater Mayor, Dale Johnson, Janet helped him organize the first-ever Tumwater 4^th of July parade; and she was appointed Special Events Coordinator for the Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials, during which she worked closely with its sponsors, The Nike Corporation and Dole Pineapple. Janet also became a founding member and first president of the Olympia/Thurston County Dixieland Jazz Society which, for 25-plus years, sponsored a highly-popular jazz festival at the St. Martin’s Pavilion, drawing bands and countless attendees from across the nation.

 

Janet often stated that, with all her life adventures and the roles assigned to her, her favorite was having been married to Roger, the love of her life, for 57 years, and having raised “the best two kids on the planet!” The “icing on her cake,” as she put it, was the addition of her and Roger’s son-in-law, Ron; grandson, Nicolaas “Nic” Wesselius (son of Ron and Kandi); grandchildren, Brad and Emily Ecklund (David’s adopted children), plus Brad’s wife, Jana, and Emily’s special guy, David; another loving granddaughter (through marriage), Kendra (Wesselius) Fredericks, plus her husband, Justin, and their children, Hailee, Jace, and Ashton Fredericks, who quickly became great-grandchildren to Roger and Janet; and “bonus” grandchildren, Mia Myette and D’Arcy Myette, with his wife Stacey, and their children Ella and Luc.

 

In addition to Kandi, David, and all those listed above, Janet’s survivors include her husband, Roger; a sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and Marshall Bryant of Palm Desert, California; a sister and brother-in-law, Kathy and Dick Fankhauser of Olympia; a brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Barbara Robinson of Albuquerque; and a sister, Carolyn Robinson of Olympia; along with numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom were special to her. Also surviving Janet are her and Roger’s long-time best friends, Ted and Jo Bridges of Bellevue, and their children, Craig, Cara and Tana; plus countless treasured friends who helped her fight her final battle.

 

Preceding Janet in death were her parents, Jason and Frances Robinson, plus four siblings, Jim Robinson, David Robinson, Linda Robinson Corbett plus her husband, Cork; and Dianne Robinson Fankhauser.

 

A celebration of life will be held for Janet at a later date.  Janet requested that any contributions in her memory be sent to Thurston County Medic One, 2703 Pacific Ave. SE, Suite C, Olympia, WA 98501.

 

The family would like to express their gratitude to Janet and Roger’s dear friends, Dr. Eric Klein, and his wife, Jeanette, for their unequalled care, friendship, and love.

 

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