Jeremy Ten Haken's Obituary
Jeremy Ten Haken died Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024.
Jeremy was born Dec. 29, 1952, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he grew up and attended public school. As a teenager and young adult, he traveled extensively, eventually settling in Arkansas in the 1970s. He lived in Little Rock for several years before moving to Fayetteville, his home for more than three decades.
Jeremy Ten Haken’s life began in recovery from alcoholism, and he touched the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of people suffering from the disease. He welcomed newcomers. He was patient and generous, and he always made time to help a fellow traveler.
He was an important member of the Northwest Arkansas art community, where his many friends appreciated his work, friendship and support. He was a member of Artists of Northwest Arkansas and was one of the artists to operate and show work at The ANA Gallery in Rogers.
Jeremy worked as a carpenter, roofer and mechanic. He possessed an innate intelligence, aided by a ferocious curiosity about the natural world and how things worked.
This curiosity led to several avocations, including photography and art, white-water paddling, hiking, trees and flowers, astronomy and travel. As a boy, he read a story in National Geographic about the oldest trees in the world, the famous bristle cone pines in the Great Basin area of eastern California and western Nevada. Jeremy never forgot this story or those trees, and several years ago, he fulfilled his dream of seeing them in person. He drove to a remote area of California, camped under the stars and took many beautiful photographs.
Jeremy loved all animals, and he cherished his cats – Lucky, Windfall and Bandit, to name a few. He loved fires and the birds that swarmed his back yard. He could identify any tree. He grew a cluster of gorgeous, multi-colored Four O’clocks outside his bedroom window.
Especially passionate about travel, Jeremy visited many foreign countries, where he documented how people lived. This passion took him to Costa Rica, Paris, Cuba, South Africa and Egypt. His photographs demonstrated a deep understanding of humanity.
Jeremy Ten Haken is survived by his sister Ann Karen Love. He was preceded in death by his father, Melvin Garritt Ten Haken; his mother, Dorothy Jean Reisinger; and his brother, Hugh John Ten Haken.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 1, at St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville.
What’s your fondest memory of Jeremy?
What’s a lesson you learned from Jeremy?
Share a story where Jeremy's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jeremy you’ll never forget.
How did Jeremy make you smile?
