Wilbur Haiar, age 88, of Marion, SD (formerly of Alexandria, SD) died Thursday, August 30, 2018 at Tieszen Memorial Home in Marion, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Saturday, September 1, 2018 at St. Mary of Mercy Catholic Church in Alexandria, SD with Burial and Military Honors at St. Mary of Mercy Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Friday, August 31, 2018 at St. Mary of Mercy Catholic Church in Alexandria with a prayer service followed by a rosary beginning at 7:00 PM. Arrangements are under the direction of the Will Funeral Chapel.

Wilbur H. Haiar, son of Norbert and Anne (Krier) Haiar, was born November 25, 1929 on a farm south of Emery, SD. He attended St. Peter's Catholic School for 8 years and graduated from Farmer High School. Wilbur then entered the US Army in 1951 and served in Korea for 20 months. He was honorably discharged in April of 1953.

Wilbur was united in marriage with Juliann Kline on October 5, 1953 in Aberdeen, SD. The couple farmed for 16 years west of Farmer, SD and later moved to Alexandria in 1970. While in Alexandria Wilbur was employed by Hanson County Highway Department, Don Burns Truck Lines and the Hanson County Soil Conservation. He retired in 1996. The couple moved to Marion, SD in 2014.

He was a member of St. Mary of Mercy Catholic Church in Alexandria for over 40 years. Wilbur was also a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters #1766, the Knights of Columbus, the Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department and a life time member of the American Legion Post #41. Wilbur was honored as Legionnaire of the Year in 1975. He ushered and later served at mass for the Carmelite Sisters. He enjoyed fishing, playing cards, dancing and fixing lawn mowers.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Juliann Haiar, Marion, SD; three sons, Dr. David (Cindy) Haiar, Marion, SD and their children, Scott (Polly) Haiar and their children Harper and Camden Haiar, Omaha, NE, Sara (Reynolds) Hillyer and their children Townes and Annie Hillyer, Nashville, TN, Mike Haiar, Omaha, NE, Stephanie Haiar, Omaha, NE, Dan (Marilyn) Haiar, Sioux Falls, SD and their children, Brian Haiar, Ryan Haiar, Diane Haiar, Chris Haiar, all of Sioux Falls, SD, Loren (Lisa) Haiar, Sioux Falls, SD and their children, Anna Haiar, Joshua Haiar, all of Sioux Falls, SD; two sisters, Marjorie Reisch, Howard, SD, Doris (Melvin) Schlimgen, Mitchell, SD; his in-laws, Loretta Dylla, Bristol, SD, Leo Kline, Aberdeen, SD, Leonard (Caroline) Kline, Aberdeen, SD, Elmer Zulk, Aberdeen, SD, Norman Endres, Ethan, SD.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Laura Haiar; his parents; sisters, Jeanette Wethor, Marlene Wethor and Germaine Endres.