Willard Charles Haberkamp

Willard (Bill) Charles Haberkamp, age 93, of Raleigh, NC (formerly of Flushing, MI) received his Heavenly Reward on October 4, 2025, after a brief illness, just a few weeks shy of his 94th birthday. He will be greatly missed by those who loved him, but we rejoice that he has heard the words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant!"

The family will receive visitors who wish to remember and reflect on Bill’s life and legacy at the Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, 831 Wake Forest Rd. Raleigh, NC on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, from 3 to 5 PM. Friends are also welcome to gather with family October 9, 2025, at 10 AM at Raleigh Memorial Park for the graveside committal service.

Willard was born on October 26, 1931, in Lombard, IL to Louis Edward Haberkamp and Helen Fasse-Haberkamp. After graduating from Hinsdale High School, he enlisted in the Air Force and served as a flight mechanic. While Staff Sergeant Haberkamp was stationed in Washington DC, his unit was responsible for transporting dignitaries and military brass. It was there he met Edna Kluge, and they were married on January 21, 1956.

Bill and Edna moved back to Hinsdale where he worked for the GM Electro-Motive Division in nearby La Grange. At EMD, he became acquainted with the engineers at IBM. Bill eventually went to work for IBM, a career that spanned more than 30 years, and took his family from Illinois to Minnesota, to Michigan, to California, back to Michigan, to Florida, and to Michigan again, before settling in Raleigh in 1984. When Bill retired from IBM, he was immediately hired by a contracting/consulting firm because of his expertise using the same systems he was so familiar with at IBM. When this assignment ended, he found himself restless and took a part time job with a local NAPA auto parts store making deliveries to area repair shops. This last endeavor was more about coffee, donuts, and friends than the paycheck.

The family patriarch, Bill was a faithful husband, loving father and grandfather, and a cherished friend. He loved the Lord, his family, and his church. He was active in various churches through the years, and participated in mission trips to Portugal, Brazil, and Africa as well as local volunteer efforts. Frugal himself, Bill was always generous to others. He had the ability to make things work that others might discard, and was a capable mechanic, electrician, and carpenter.

After his wife’s death in 2020, the years following covid were difficult and lonely until he began a friendship with Cheryl Whitfield, a widow herself, and a friend of Edna’s. Bill and Cheryl became a married couple and enjoyed serving together in their local church. Memorial gifts in honor of Willard can be made to Christ Baptist Church, 400 Newton Road, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27615.

Willard was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Edna Kluge-Haberkamp, an infant son Wayne, and a very special daughter Cheryl. He leaves to cherish his memory, sons William and wife Paula Haberkamp of Cookeville, TN, Wade and wife Lynn Haberkamp of Linden, MI, granddaughter Melissa of Washington, D.C., grandson Brian of Cookeville, granddaughter Nicole of Linden, a sister Janice Mae Ridgeway of Bothell, Washington, and his loving wife Cheryl Whitfield of Raleigh.

A service of Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Raleigh.