Vincent Siering Haneman Jr.
Vincent Siering Haneman Jr.
1924-2017
Memorial services for Major General USAF (ret.) Vincent Siering Haneman Jr., of Columbus, Ga., were held Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, at St. Luke United Methodist Church in Columbus, with the Rev. Robert Beckum officiating. Mr. Haneman died Aug. 29, 2017, at age 93.
He was born in Orange, N.J. to the late Associate Justice Vincent Siering Haneman, New Jersey Supreme Court, and Helen Harris Haneman. He attended school in Brigantine, N.J., and became an Eagle Scout, a member of the high school swim team and an accomplished life guard.
After graduation, he attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he was a member of the swim team and Sigma Nu fraternity.
When World War II began, he joined the Army Air Corps in 1943 and received his commission as Second Lieutenant and pilot wings in 1944. He flew B25 bombers in North Africa, Italy and southern France. He was promoted to first lieutenant, received the Distinguished Flying Cross twice and the Air Medal eight times. He returned to the United States and enrolled at MIT in 1945. He received his Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering in 1947. His first position was at MIT on a missile contract.
He enrolled in the aeronautical engineering department at the University of Michigan in 1949. He was awarded the Master of Science degree in 1950.
He remained in the Air Force Reserve and served during the Korean conflict, assigned to Wright Patterson Air Force Base in 1950. He was reassigned to the Air Force Institute duty station at the University of Michigan and then Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He received a PhD from the University of Michigan in 1953, with assignment to the Ballistic Missile Division in Los Angeles and as the head of the new projects in guidance and control. He resigned his regular commission and returned to civilian life in 1959 in Dallas, where he formed a consulting firm with contracts with Aerojet, Lockheed and General Electric among others. In 1960, he accepted a position at Oklahoma State University as associate Dean of Engineering. In 1971, he became Dean of Engineering at Auburn University; and in 1980, he became Dean of Engineering at the University of Alaska. He retired in 1991 as Dean Emeritus and Professor of Mechanical Engineering Emeritus.
He is a member of the scholastic honor societies of Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honor Society. He also received the American Society of Engineering Education Centennial Medal, which recognizes individuals who made a significant and lasting impact on engineering or engineering technology education.
In addition to this decorated academic and military career, he also served as president of the American Society of Professional Engineers.
Two of his favorite organizations were the Boy Scouts of America and Rotary. He dedicated many hours to both organizations. He served on the executive board of the Chattahoochee Council of BSA, and chaired the Rotary Youth Leadership Committee. He was awarded both the Distinguished Eagle Award and Rotarian of the Year award.
In Columbus, he was a member of the Friday Friars, the DDS, and enjoyed his poker club and Rose Hill lunch group, all including his closest friends. He was a model railroad enthusiast and donated an extensive operating layout to a civic club in Louisiana.
He married Adelaide Dagoff Russell in 1961; she died in 1999. He married Barbara Mize Gilliam in 2002.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Howard Frederick Haneman, and his oldest son, Vincent Siering Haneman III.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara; son, Charles Frederick Haneman and Celeste; granddaughter, Laura Haneman of Aiken, S.C., step-daughters, Rosalyn Tullos of Canton, Daye Russell of Sedona, Ariz.; step-children, Otis D. Gilliam III, J. Woody Gilliam and Karen, and Martha Gilliam Hatcher and Madden, all of Columbus, Ga.; and numerous step-grandchildren.
He was a true servant, leader and a dedicated Christian who loved his family, church and country.
