Richard (Rick) William DeHaan
March 14, 1935
September 10, 2026
Richard (Rick) William DeHaan, age 91 of Broken Arrow, OK died on September 10, 2026
Richie, as his Mother liked to call him, was born in Philadelphia in 1935 to Helen & Jules DeHaan. His mother Helen raised him as a single Mother from the age of two, with a great deal of help from her parents, Rick’s grandparents. Helen married Harry Gilmore when Rick was a teen, and Harry became a wonderful and supportive addition to their little family. Rick attended La Salle College High School and then attended University of Philadelphia his Freshman and Sophomore years.
When Rick was a college Junior, he applied to the University of Tulsa and was accepted. He took a bus to Tulsa where he was dropped off at the bus stop with one suitcase and a list of room and board prospects that TU had provided. He ended up renting the first property he visited, a small garage apartment where he had to walk across the driveway to the main house to use the bathroom and kitchen. Rick graduated from the University of Tulsa and later received his Master’s in Education.
Rick met the love of his life Karen Grace Walton when they were teachers at Wiley Post Elementary in Tulsa. They met while on playground duty and shortly after Rick asked Karen out on a date. They were married in July,1964. They had one daughter, Lisa Marilyn, in 1969.
Rick later became a Principal for Union Public Schools and started his career at Union Elementary. He went on to open Roy Clark Elementary and retired from Briarglen Elementary. Rick enjoyed watching all sports and attended Union football games on Friday nights during his many years as a Principal. He loved the game of golf and was an avid golfer.
Rick will always be remembered for his calm and gentle demeanor. He was a wonderful husband and father and will be missed every day.
He is preceded in death by his wife Karen Grace and is survived by his daughter Lisa Peterson and son in law John, two grandchildren, Eric Peterson, and Nicole Yeager and her husband Campbell.