In the last few days, we’ve received word of the deaths of two notable local business founders – the Craft and Folk Art Museum’sFrank Wyle…and Haas & Co.’sDavid Haas.
According to an August 24 obituary in the Idaho State Journal, Haas died unexpectedly of natural causes on August 11, at his home in Los Angeles. The story continues:
David worked many years in Pocatello [Idaho] building businesses as owner of his salons. He first started on North Main, later in the old Bannock Hotel and finally at the corner of Center and North Hayes as “Haas and Company”. He ran his company for many years, employing several beauticians and forming friendships with his customers and employee’s that lasted his entire life.David Haas and Carmen Wall celebrate 10 years of David Haas Hair Design. (From the book Larchmont, by Buzz publisher Patricia Lombard.)
David later moved to Los Angeles California and opened a new “Haas and Company” in the Hollywood area. While in Los Angeles he met and married the love of his life Michael Snider. Together David and Michael formed and ran many successful businesses in California and Idaho, including Arrow West rentals, Old Town Mercantile and Antiques, a Furniture sales company as well as Haas and Company.
David was living in California at the time of his death but had great love for Pocatello and his many friends and family that lives here in Pocatello and for that reason he converted his shop on Center and Hayes into a second home that he has always kept. He commuted to and from California buying and selling what he considered “yard sale treasures” to be bought and sold at his store in Pocatello as well as running his rental business here in Pocatello…
David later moved to Los Angeles California and opened a new “Haas and Company” in the Hollywood area. While in Los Angeles he met and married the love of his life Michael Snider. Together David and Michael formed and ran many successful businesses in California and Idaho, including Arrow West rentals, Old Town Mercantile and Antiques, a Furniture sales company as well as Haas and Company.
No services are scheduled at David’s request, just happy memories of his life and the good times he had with his friends and family.
CAFAM posted this notice on its Facebook feed on Saturday:
It is with deep sadness that we share the news that Frank Wyle, who founded the Craft & Folk Art Museum with his wife Edith Wyle, passed away peacefully this week at his ranch in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
As a native of Illinois, Frank brought with him the sensibilities and can-do attitudes of the Midwest to his love of the museum. We will truly miss Frank who attended regular board meetings and museum events as an active trustee and supporter since the inception of the Egg and the Eye gallery in 1965.
At 97 years, Mr. Wyle still offered wise council to our board and encouraged us to excel. A marvelous raconteur, Frank often regaled listeners with stories of museum travel to the cold climes of Alaska seeking native art and his pride in hosting Jihan el Sadat at the Craft & Folk Art Museum in 1981.
Mr. Wyle will be long remembered by CAFAM’s board of directors, staff, volunteers and its members who have long enjoyed Frank’s company and generosity.
We extend our most heartfelt sympathy to the Wyle family. He will be truly missed by his family and all of us at CAFAM.
We extend our condolences to both families and organizations.
Elizabeth Fuller was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN but has lived in LA since 1991 - with deep roots in both the Sycamore Square and West Adams Heights-Sugar Hill neighborhoods. She spent 10 years with the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, volunteers at Wilshire Crest Elementary School, and has been writing for the Buzz since 2015.
