Marie May 'Hinze' von Haas

Tadaima! ただいま I’m home!

Marie May Hinze von Haas, daughter, sister, a devoted mother and Obasan ‘Baba’ (grandmother), brilliant scholar, and resilient spirit, passed away unexpectedly but not alone on February 9, 2026, at the age of 74. She was a woman who navigated life’s greatest heights and deepest sorrows with grace, leaving behind a legacy of love and intellectual pursuit.

Born on March 7, 1951, in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan on the floor of her grandmother’s house. Marie was the first born child and daughter of William Louis Hinze and Keiko Sugie known as Kay S. Hinze. On January 24, 1952, Marie, her mom and dad, boarded the USS Buckner in Yokohama on their way to their final destination of Chicago, Illinois where they lived with her father’s family. They arrived in Seattle on February 5, 1952 and flew from Seattle to Chicago on a cargo plane. So began her/their adventure in the United States. Marie’s heritage was a foundational part of her identity, which she continued to pursue her entire life. Her first written account was when she documented the life of her mother in ‘To Honor My Mother – A Story of a Japanese War Bride, 2008’.

Marie was a 15 year old freshman at Waynesville High School in Missouri, where she was a cheerleader when she met the love of her life, a football player, Herbert Nikolaus (von) Haas; known to classmates as ‘Herb/Herbie’. They enjoyed meeting up at dance halls, teen clubs, drive-in movies and more. The shared background of Marie and Bruno—both being "Army brats" born to mothers who were both “war brides” from Japan and Austria—connected them in a special way. They were married January 31, 1970 after Bruno graduated from Central Missouri State University as an enlisted officer with the US Army. Their story was 52 years in the making until his unexpected passing on October 25, 2022.

For many years, Marie was the steadfast anchor of a Special Forces family, supporting “Bruno” known to his military colleagues and throughout his civilian career. Together, they raised two sets of twins: Magdalina and Ria (born 1977), and Franz and Katherina (born 1984). She played a vital leadership role in the Officers' Wives Club, where her mastery of calligraphy and embroidery brought a personal, artistic touch to the certificates and awards presented to the officers.

When the family transitioned to civilian life and moved to Colorado in 1985, Marie showcased her entrepreneurial spirit by founding The Nail Parlor. She became a prominent figure in the Denver community, specifically among the Denver Broncos’ inner circle. Her impeccable skill as a cosmetologist was featured in both the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News during the Broncos’ legendary 1998 Super Bowl XXXII and 1999 Super Bowl XXXIII run. She was an avid and devoted Denver Broncos superfan and even commented on the most recent Superbowl, that she was glad the Broncos weren’t in it as they always tend to have the ability to raise our blood pressure!

When all of the kids were out of the house, Marie transitioned from business owner to scholar. While working for major salons, she pursued her passion for history, earning both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Colorado Denver. In 2019, she and Bruno moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where she began her PhD journey at the University of New Mexico.

A published author in the ‘Historical Studies Journal, Spring 2017, Volume 34’, published by the University of Colorado Denver, her doctoral research was a deeply personal and academic synthesis of her own life and her mother’s, focusing on the children of occupied post-WWII Japan, with her dissertation titled, ‘Made in Japan: Babies Born During the American and Allied Occupation of Japan, 1945-1952’. Despite the devastating losses of her husband in 2022 and her daughter Ria in 2025, as well as her own recent health battles specifically having her recent surgery repairing her abdominal aortic aneurysm, Marie remained a dedicated scholar, always sharing her excitement of her PhD even most recently with the Doctors and nursing staff after her recent surgery. She was slated to graduate in May 2026; her children are currently working to ensure she is awarded her PhD posthumously by the university and Department of History. She poured her life into her dissertation and one day her children would like to see that published as well.

In late 2025, Marie returned to Colorado to be in the care of her children. This final chapter proved to be a profound blessing, granting her the opportunity to be surrounded by the joy of her children and grandchildren. In a season of immense loss, these months ensured she was never alone, but instead enveloped in the warmth and laughter of the family she spent her life building and dedicated to.

Marie was always a woman of big goals and passed that on to all of her children. A couple of trips she was planning post-graduation were: she looked forward to traveling the entirety of Route 66 with her grandson, Marcus, and returning to Japan with friends of the family introducing them to her culture and family. While those journeys will now be taken in spirit, her family finds comfort in knowing she has been reunited with her beloved parents, her beloved ‘B’ and her daughter Ria who she missed all so deeply. In an entry in 2025, Marie reflected on her life with Bruno:

“January 31, 2025 – The weight of Bruno's absence from my life has been especially heavy these past few days.

Today is fifty-five (55) years since Bruno and I were married. 31January 1970.

We had been a couple since 1966 when I was fifteen-years-old. My dad was in Vietnam when Bruno and I began spending time together. My dad returned home and made it very clear (I still have the letter he wrote) that our relationship must end. We paid him no mind. Can you imagine how my father must have reacted upon returning home after his deployment in Vietnam from 1965-1966 to see his15 year old daughter was beginning a relationship with Bruno.”

She is survived by her children: Magdalina (Eric Boogaard) and their children Marcus and Michaela; Franz (Stefanie von Haas) and their children Zuri and Zander; and Katherina (Isaac Martinez) and their children Micah and Kain; siblings, and countless family members in Japan.

Marie’s celebration of life will be held on March 7, 2026 in Colorado, on what would have been her 75th birthday. Details forthcoming. Please use the guestbook section to load photos and memories of our mom. This book will be printed out.

Please contact Magi with any questions. makeithappenmagi (a) gmail.com