Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

September 20, 2023

CHARLOTTE – William F. (Billy) Haake II, 78, of Waxhaw, died surrounded by his family on Wednesday, September 20, 2023.  He was born January 16, 1945, in Charlotte, NC, the city he called home for most of his life. 

Billy did not march to the beat of a different drummer, he danced to the sound of a circus organ.  Each chapter of his life was as different and as colorful as one could possibly ask for.  He saw the world through a lens of creativity that led to him leaving behind a treasure-filled portfolio of writing, photography, drawings, theater acting, movies, and memories of sleight-of-hand performances.  Billy somehow managed to walk through life and around each turn would stumble into a situation that would years later be retold in a way that would have you howling with laughter. There was nothing he liked seeing more than a smile on the face of friend or hearing the sound of a child laughing with joy.  

After graduating high school from Myers Park in 1963, he received an appointment to the Naval Academy, where he spent limited time before transferring to UNCC to study English.  In 1966, he decided to change the direction of his life and enlisted in the United States Marine Corp., where he proudly served his country until 1968, including a tour of duty in Vietnam during the war. 

Of all the creative outlets in his life, magic was his deepest passion.  Attending a birthday party at an early age that included a magician as the entertainment, Billy was mesmerized with what he saw and always said in that instant, he knew he wanted to grow up doing magic.  Never without a deck of cards in his hands or pocket, he took every opportunity to show off a new trick he had been working on.  A longtime member of the Charlotte Sleight Club, he considered its members to be honorary brothers and sisters.  

Billy is survived by his beloved son, William Dana Haake and his wife, Emily of Weddington; adored grandsons, Noah and Elijah; brothers, Richard Haake and his wife, Carolyn of Charlotte, NC and Eric Haake and his wife, Karen of Cary, NC; nieces, Jessica Krueger and her husband, Scotty, Ashley Haake and her husband, Chris Ritter, Christina Wohlford and her husband, Brandon, Meredith Albee and her husband, Matt.  Also surviving are his many cousins, great nieces, and great nephews.  While not on his “family tree”, others he considered to be nearly family were his many friends from AA, Al-Anon, his “Men’s Group” of 30 years, Dana’s mother Peggy Hopkins, Al and Cindy Yount, the entire Yount family, and everyone he has worked with creatively.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Evelyn M. Haake and William F. Haake. 

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at the Matthews campus of New City Church, 11011 Monroe Road, Matthews, NC.  A reception will follow immediately after the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be offered in memory of Billy to the Alexander Youth Network, 6220 Thermal Rd., Charlotte, NC 28211 (https://www.alexanderyouthnetwork.org/).  

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.