Community Harvest mourns loss of Reverend James Haugen

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE)   The Community Harvest Issued the following statement on Friday regarding the Thursday accident that resulted in the death of Reverend James Haugen :

Yesterday ((Thursday)) , a terrible tragedy occurred at Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana which resulted in the death of our friend, James Haugen, pastor at Living Waters Lutheran Church in Wolf Lake, Indiana. Pastor Haugen and his wife were at the food bank to pick up food for the Wolf Lake Food Pantry in Noble County. While none of the Community Harvest Food Bank personnel were involved in the accident, we are all deeply shocked and saddened by the passing of this kind and compassionate man. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and congregation at this very difficult time.

Community Harvest Food Bank closed yesterday morning and will remain closed to the public today (Friday, July 20, 2012). Mental and spiritual health counselors have been assisting the staff of Community Harvest to help ease their grief as a result of this horrible loss. Community Harvest will reopen on Saturday at 9:00 am for the Helping Hands food distribution and Community Cupboard clients.

The Wolf Lake pastor was killed Thursday morning after he was accidentally run over at the Community Harvest Food Bank in Fort Wayne.

Police said around 9 a.m., Haugen was hit by a van while he was helping load supplies for the Wolf Lake Food Bank. Haugen is a pastor at Living Waters Lutheran Church in Wolf Lake.

Police said Haugen was outside the van, guiding or directing it as it backed up, when he was hit and then pinned underneath it. According to a police report, the van was driven by an immediate family member.

By the time paramedics got to Community Harvest, at 999 E. Tillman Rd., workers had already used a forklift to get the the van off Haugen. He was taken to a local hospital in critical condition and later died.

Ron King, a friend of Haugen, said he knew the pastor when Haugen was a pastor at a church in Columbia City. He said the reverend had a servant's heart.

"He was a friend that showed his compassion for the needy in the community and just a hard worker," he said.

He believes Haugen's wife and congregation will rely on their faith to see them through this dark time.

"I'm just thankful she knows the Lord and he will guide her through it and same way with his congregation," King said.

Community Harvest closed for the rest of Thursday and will be closed all day Friday, including all Farm Wagon stops. It will reopen Saturday.