In Loving Memory of Robert “Bob” Dale Haines Sr

Robert “Bob” Dale Haines Sr., age 73, passed away August 15, 2018 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Bob called Colorado Springs home for over 5 years. He was born to Harold Harlow Haines and Josephine Margaret Charlebois on June 26, 1945 in Miles City, Montana. Bob attended Terry High School. He later attended Medical Technologist school in West Virginia and Carl Sandburg Community College, Galesburg, Illinois.  His degree was in Paramedic Studies. Bob held a license as a Paramedic. He served at Galesburg Cottage Hospital in Galesburg, Illinois as Director of the Lab and GHAS Ambulance Service as a Paramedic.

He married Marian G. Haines in 1965 and again to Nancy Cooper in 1992. Bob has seen it all and saved countless lives. A True Hero. He enjoyed the outdoors, Golf and target shooting. Bob will be missed by his friends, family and anyone who ever knew him.

He is survived by one son, Robert D. Haines Jr. of Colorado Springs, Colorado; one grandson, Dakota W. Haines, Colorado Springs, Colorado and one sister, Jeanne Trafton, Lewistown, Montana.

The paramedic stood and faced God.
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his uniform was clean,
He’d gotten dressed kind of fast.

“Step forward now, paramedic.
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To my church have you been true?”

The paramedic squared his shoulders and said,
“No Lord I guess I ain’t,
cause those of us who wade in blood,
can’t always be a saint.

I’ve had to work most Sundays,
and at times my talk was tough.
And at times I’ve been violent,
cause the streets are awful rough.

But I never took a penny
that wasn’t mine to keep…
although I worked a lot of overtime,
when the bills got far too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I wept unmanly tears.

I know I don’t deserve a place
among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
except to calm their fears.

If you have a place for me, Lord,
It needn’t be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don’t I understand.”

There was silence all around the throne,
where saints had often trod.
As there medic waited quietly
for the judgment of his God.

“Step forward now, paramedic.
You’ve borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on heavens streets.
You’ve done your time in hell.”