Sally Haake

Sally Fraser Haake, 86, of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, was born March 10, 1939, in Evanston, Illinois, the daughter of William Allen and Doris Cristabel (Fraser) Vinnedge. She departed this life Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at Saint Luke’s East Hospital in Lee’s Summit.

Sally grew up in the suburbs north of Chicago surrounded by aunts, uncles and cousins. She was great at sports and in high school excelled at swimming. She was a 1957 New Prier high school graduate and went on to attend college at Northwestern University.

While attending Northwestern she met Jon Nelson, and they were married during her sophomore year in 1959. Jon joined the Marine Corps as a fighter pilot and they were stationed in Florida, Okinawa, Japan and Southern California where they also enjoyed breeding and showing Malamute Huskies. After 4 years Jon was honorably discharged from the Marines and was hired as a commercial pilot for TWA in Kansas City. Tragically Jon was killed in an airplane crash in 1964 while on a training mission in the Marine Reserves (a memorial to him has been placed in the mountains of New Mexico).

Following Jon’s death Sally remained in Kansas City and rekindled her love of horses. She bought, bred, and showed Arabian horses. She later met and married Henry Haake and they moved to his property south of Pleasant Hill where they built a home and ran a small farm. Haake Arabians was born. She enjoyed working on the farm tending to her horses, chickens, dogs, cats, as well as a variety of other farm animals. After a few years Sally and Henry went their separate ways, and she became very independent running the farm by herself. During this time, she began to make many friends and grew to love the community of Pleasant Hill.

In 1980, Steve Spruill, whom she came to love very much, stepped into her life. They worked the farm together for over 28 years. Steve’s two sons, Randy and Cam enjoyed many summers visiting them on the farm. Sadly, Steve passed away on January 16, 2010. Sally was alone again, but this time she had a whole community supporting her.

Sally volunteered and was active in a variety of ways. She was a member of P.E.O. International, the Pi Beta Phi Sorority, and the Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3118, Pleasant Hill. She spent many years volunteering at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, was a poll worker at local elections, and served as a director for Pleasant Hill Meals on Wheels. She also helped establish Longview Gardens working there until her retirement. She was a voracious reader, enjoyed quilting, crocheting, knitting, tending to her flowers, bird watching, nature, playing bridge and mahjong and supporting the Royals and Chiefs. She loved and supported her community well.

She loved her people even more abundantly than her animals. She was loyal to all of her family and supported them in all their life journeys. Through the years she hired many young people to work on the farm doing chores and maintaining her property. Her mentoring of the next generation was a gift. She was always available to anyone that needed her, and her home and heart was open to everyone. There were many hours spent gathered around her kitchen table or with drinks on the patio as she listened with interest, laughing wholeheartedly, offering endless encouragement, and genuine care for others. She was a trustworthy confidante and very caring friend to so many. Everyone who knew Sally loved her.

Sally is survived by her sister, Susan Perry of Tucson, Arizona; two nephews, Robert Perry and Scott Perry; three grandnieces; and one great nephew. She is also survived by Steve’s children, Randy (and Amy) Spruill, and Cam (and Libby) Spruill; five grandchildren, Abigail, Annabelle, Leila, Zach, and Gracie; brother-in-law, Stan (and Susan) Spruill; two sisters-in-law, Fran Schilling and Lorie Dalton; her adopted family, Kevin, Regina, Ben, Chloee, Cassie, and Nate Leidig; other relatives and a host of friends.

Per Sally’s wish, cremation has been accorded. 

A celebration of Sally's life will be held 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, August 30, 2025, at the Big Iron Town Event Center, 29608 E. 179th St., Pleasant Hill, Missouri 64080.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Pleasant Hill Animal Shelter, Pleasant Hill V.F.W., Pleasant Hill Lay Clergy, or Children’s Mercy Hospital and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.StanleyEdenburn.com

Arrangements: Stanley-Edenburn Funeral Home, 203 N. Armstrong St., Pleasant Hill, Missouri 64080 (816) 540-5550