PHOTOBILLY - Billy "photoman" Haffer dies in car accident!

The prayers from my family go out to danielle and the rest of billys family. He always had a handshake and a smile for me. We hope to see you again one day Billy. Paul and Marnetta Aubuchon
 
Racerrod said:
His family is deeply touched by all your prayers, thoughts, emails, texts, facebook messages and phone calls. I have talked with many of you who I have not spoken to in years and made some new friends myself. I am still way to shook up to post much but will share some stories and more about Billy when I get to that point. I stopped by his home in St. Peters today where he lived with his mother Betty and brother Tony, and daughter Danielle. They are obviously shaken and don't have many answers to all of the "how" questions concerning the accident. But what I can tell you with certainty is that Billy deeply cared for you all the same way you felt for him. He was always calling and texting me when you were in need of prayers or your family had gone though a tragic event. When you were hurting it deeply touched him.

Thanks so much for the love and support you gave Billy during his life and after his life here was complete. We certainly didn't know it would end this way, but I can't help but smile thinking about this image in my mind. I'd love to see the look on Mike Meuer's face when Billy came through the gates of heaven about 1:14 AM this morning! I bet Billy was excited to see a familiar face just as you all were when you saw Billy at the track. And the first thing out of Billy's mouth to THE TALKER GUY was "Guess who won the feature last night!?". Billy was a huge part of 2 families, the HAFFER family and the DIRT RACING family. Me and my brother Randy were fortunate enough to grow up with Billy and shared many memories with him in both families. He was so special and loving. His heart was the best and you all described him so perfectly I can't add much more to that. God bless you for your love and support to us all, it has been a sad day in our family and was was a big part of the fun in all our family gatherings. The stories he would share and the way he told them were priceless and he loved telling them to his uncles!

Deepest appreciation for all you all did for Billy's fun life,

Rod Haffer
Cousin and best friend
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After reading this it brought tears to my eye's. And i did't even know the man. From what all of you have wrote he was a great man. I'm sure you all will miss him a great deal.
 
Very sad news....... Thoughts and prayers go out to you and the family. Got to see Billy at CCS back in April, never met a more happy-go-lucky guy that loved the racing. Gods speed buddy!!!!!


Jim Reavis and family...
 
We have alot of Billys work here at the shop. some times he would come by just to hang out. I don't think there's a race car in the area that Billy doesn't have a picture of. He enjoyed the sport so much. I'll remember him with that big smile and a hand shake. RIP "Little Buddy"
Bob Regot
 
Everywhere I went today and ran into someone affiliated with racing they all said the same "Didja hear about Billy, and wow what a super guy"......I can't tell you how much he helped in supplying the pictures for the Highland Speedway Program book and allowing me to access his pictures for use with the Highland articles......as everyone has said he will be missed not just for that but for being one of the greatest fans of our sport......I'll miss the late night phone calls to talk about things at the track...God Speed Photo Billy! Tim H.
 
wow known billy for over 20 yrs have signed his books countless times god speed billy and tony tell mike high for me
lil joe rolla salvage racing
ps to the family please call if u need something or a race car to display at the funerl home
 
I'm having a very hard time coming to grips with this news. I didn't check my computer this morning as I had a doctor's appt. in West County and then went to my daughter's in Troy, IL. She didn't tell me anything about Billy until after I got to her house and we had the baby asleep for a nap. She very carefully told me what you all knew by that time. We both cried in her kitchen.

Now I read that ptony also was taken from us in this tragic accident. Although I didn't know him by sight, we had many "conversations" on stlracing, including one this very week on track cancelations. This is all so hard to believe.

Billy was truly one of the very nicest guys at the races. He could always cheer you up just by saying "Hi!" If things were not going just right on the track, he had words of encouragement. He even made Jimmy's photos with GREEN printing on them for me. He was so proud of that! I'm lucky to have many of his photos adorning my family room walls! He always had several extra shots in the Jr. Fan Club envelopes for the kids, too. I don't know how we're going to get along without him taking those pictures of the kids.

My deepest sympathies go out to all of Billy's family and friends, and especially to his sweet daughter Danielle, and to the family of Tony Penberthy also. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
 
My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to "Photobilly's" family.

Billy, it was always fun talking with you at the track. RIP my friend.

Midwest Connection
Rich
 
Rest in Peace my friend !!!!!!!!I will surely miss the phone calls and getting to see your smiling face at the race track. Thoughts and prayers go out to you Danielle and the rest of the family !!!!!!
 
Racerrod said:
It is with deepest regrets that I am posting this. My lifelong buddy and 1st cousin, Billy Haffer was killed last night in a car accident coming home from a race in Iowa. Details are still coming in but we wanted his racing family to know ASAP.

It happened near the Iowa state line when a low tire cause the car to slow and be rear ended by a truck. Billy was a passenger with a couple other racing friends. 2 in the car were killed and another is still critical. I will post details as they come in but if you need quicker responses you can email me: rodhaffer@yahoo.com.

God please comfort us all in this horrible time. His entire family is very shook up. He was my lifelong best friend and childhood play mate and it is very difficult.

Rod Haffer
618-799-8878 text/cell me anytime
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Billy would stop anytime to lend a hand or help you in anyway. If all people were like him the world would be a better place. My thoughts and sadness are for the daughter and grandmother.
 
This is 1 of the most gut wrenching things to hear happen to sich a unique indvidual like bill. Tracks arent gonna be the same without ur smileling face and positive attitude. Rip bill u will be missed
 
I find it very hard to think that the last time I saw Billy at Jacksonville Speedway He had just over a week to live. My thought is he never would have gone to Knoxille had our races here not been cancelled. He loved going to new tracks no matter how far away. I found myself many times wishing I had his phone number too see if I could tag along. He will be very missed.
 
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of Billy's family, and those who were injured or lost their life. Billy will be greatly missed at all of the tracks, always had a smile and always stopped by to chat. You will be missed.

The Heck Family
 
Going to miss Billy walking by and saying hi every week at the track and seeing him on the infield taking pictures. thoughts and prayers go out to Billys entire family from the harris race team and family.
 
Our thoughts and prayers are with PhotoBillys family and friends at this difficult time.
Vince Grondzki racing, Vince,Toby, Charlie, Marty
 
It has indeed been a horrible year for the racing community as we have lost way too many friends.........now including Billy and Tony. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends, and fans of both Billy and Tony. They will be missed.
 
He was a great guy and awesome photographer. He made every racer feel the same and didn't favor one class over another when it came to his photos. I really liked that about him. Always had a smile on his face. He will be truly missed. RIP Billy!! Time to take some photos at the racetrack in the sky. Thoughts and prayers to his family and especially his daughter Danielle.
 
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