Rev. Dr. William C. Haggis

William C. Haggis, 90, formerly of Dover, passed away at Vancrest Nursing Home in Van Wert, Ohio on Friday, May 6, 2022.

William, the youngest of three children, was born on March 27, 1932, to the late Arthur G. Haggis Sr. and Mary M. Campbell in Youngstown, Ohio. August 7, 1955, he married Mary C. Ripley of Ellsworth, Ohio.

William was a graduate of Canfield High School in 1950, and received the following degrees: a BA from Youngstown University in 1955, a BD from Hamma School of Theology at Wittenberg University in 1957, an M ED. from the University of Pittsburgh in 1971, and a D.Min. from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in1978.

Pastor Bill was a pastor, friend, and healer in the community. William served his seminary internship at Mt. Moriah Lutheran Church, Berlin Center, Ohio and he was called to 42 years of active ministry to the Roseville Lutheran Parish, Roseville, Ohio, Grace Lutheran Church, Steubenville, Ohio, and retired from Grace Lutheran Church in Dover, after 26 years as senior pastor. Pastor Bill then served 16 years as Interim Pastor of The Stone Creek – Evans Creek Lutheran Parish, Stone Creek, Ohio. After his second ‘retirement’, Pastor Bill served for 3 years as a supply preacher for Trinity Episcopal Church in New Philadelphia.

While at Grace in Steubenville, William was a member of the Ecumenical Institute sponsored by Bishop John King Mussio of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Steubenville. He was instrumental in starting and serving as a chaplain for the Dover-Tuscarawas County Chapter of the Order of St. Luke the Physician, and the international healing ministry. He was a member of the Southern Conference of the Northeastern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical District of the LCA in the 1980s, as past president of the Dover/New Philadelphia Ministerial Association, board of directors for Habitat for Humanity, Chairperson for the American Cancer Society and the board of the Community Professional Services (Mental Health). He also served on the Task Force on Youth and Gang Violence, was a member of the Dover Historical Society, a member of several genealogical societies in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and was a member of the Argus Masonic Lodge #545 of Canfield, Ohio. He received the Rotary Professional Award in 1988.

William and his wife, Mary, served as a team in their years of ministry. They enjoyed life together, family, friends, traveling, reading, and genealogy.

Surviving is his wife, Mary, of 66 years, and their two children: The Rev. William C. Haggis II (Crystal) of Van Wert and Cheryl Lorson (Mark) of Hilliard; six grandchildren; Jonathan, Stephanie, and Jennifer Haggis and Mark II (Carrie), William, and Katherine Lorson. A great-grandchild, Caelan Lorson, completes the family.

He was preceded in death by his brothers; Arthur and Charles.

Friends are invited to call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory in Dover on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, from 4-7 pm. His son, Pastor Will, and Rev. Bonnie Grimaldi, Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church will conduct the service at Grace Lutheran Church of Dover on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at 11:00 am. Friends can call at the church one hour prior to the church on Thursday. The funeral service will be webcast on the YouTube link at www.gracedover.org. Burial will take place at 1:30 pm on Thursday at Dover Burial Park. The Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory of Dover is handling arrangements. To sign an online guestbook for William, visit the obituary link on the funeral home’s website. www.tolandherzig.com

Pastor Bill requested that in lieu of flowers, monetary gifts be distributed to Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 216 N. Wooster Ave, Dover, Ohio 44622, the First Baptist Church Scholarship Fund, 140 Regent Street, Dover, or to the North American Lutheran Church, 2655 Innsbruck Drive, Suite A, New Brighton, MN 55112-9304.