He would walk four miles a day around the Jennings Memorial Park area with his 10-pound sandwich-board sign. He would smile and wave at people, and many would wave or honk back. He would wear his headphones and listen to music by Third Day, Mercy Me and Casting Crowns.

But he didn’t really realize how many people his message resonated with until Aug. 25.

The office administrator where he attends church, Kari Wheeler, called to tell him about the almost 200 likes and comments made on a local website.

“The Facebook post just exploded with kind words,” she said.

People, even nonbelievers, wrote about how Haga’s sign, wave and smile would brighten their days.

Since he doesn’t have Facebook, she printed them out for him. The comments brought him to tears (see below).

Haga, who wears a hat saying “Jesus is my boss,” moved to Marysville about 28 years ago after working in the timber industry in Darrington. He’s worked at a variety of jobs since. He customized wheelchairs, worked at a funeral home and for IBM and Hewlett Packard.

Living at home with him are his wife, daughter, 40, granddaughter, 15, and grandson, 5.

Wheeler, of the Marysville Church of the Nazarene, said Haga would often bring his grandson to church and sit in the front row.

“He’s quiet, mild mannered and has a sweet spirit,” Wheeler said.

She said it was Haga’s calling that God wanted him to share his message with the community.

“It’s to get the message out that God loves everybody,” she said.

She added that people are contacting the church to donate after finding out Haga is on hospice for pancreatic cancer, but that it can’t accept money or cash. But gas or grocery cards can help.

Getting started

Haga, 64, started carrying the sign when his former pastor challenged the congregation to “step out of their comfort zone.” He was already walking for exercise so he decided to just start raising his hand to God while doing so. After three weeks of that he decided to start walking during the day so people could see him. People would wonder what he was doing and started making up reasons of their own, such as he was a champion arm wrestler.

“To dispel all rumors, I let everyone know,” he said.

He made a sandwich board sign with four sayings:

•Jesus maker of all things

•Jesus 4Gives when asked2

•Jesus is the only way to heaven

•Are you saved? It’s EZ John 3:16

He walks about four miles a day, taking about an hour and 15 minutes. He said his wife, Paula, wouldn’t go with him at first because she was embarrassed.

“But when she finally went, she was blown away by all the waving and honking,” he said.

Haga said most of his experiences are positive, except for once being assaulted while protesting at the local Planned Parenthood. He often wonders when people approach him what they are going to do.

“It’s mostly the positive side, but people have thrown stuff and hit me, too,” he said.

Pancreatic cancer

Haga is on hospice now. He lost his signature long hair during chemotherapy treatments.

He found out March 10 after earlier in the year having surgery for a hernia and then being hit by a car during one of his walks.

He said he’d had a cold for about a week, making him feel weak. Then, in the middle of the night, he “puked his guts out.” About an hour later, it happened again. He thought he had the flu, but that illness had never “kicked his butt so bad.” He took a shower one day, and when he got out he could tell his coloring was bad. He had jaundice.

When he went to the doctor it was “off to the races” with an EKG, blood draw, stomach x-rays, etc. After the tests, he received a call from his doctor. He asked, “What’s the good news?” To which she replied, “There isn’t any. You need to go on hospice and get your things in order.”

He said her bedside manner needed some work.

He did receive chemo, and that’s why he hasn’t been walking as much lately.

“Two or three days I’d be down, not doing much of anything,” he said.

Haga said he continues walking because he wants to inspire people to get ready for the end of days.

“I believe the Lord is coming back soon. All signs point to it,” he said. “If you’re not ready, you won’t go. I’m ready.”

He will walk as long as he can.

“Every day, as long as I’m healthy enough,” he said. “Until the rapture or a miracle happens.”

Facebook comments

Here are some of the comments on the Snohomish County Crime Page on Facebook. Many commenters talked about how refreshing it was to read such a positive thread:

• Robyn Clark: I’m not a religious person, but I’m sincerely touched by the outpouring of love and respect for this person, whom I haven’t ever heard of or seen. What a great man to have been so incredibly positive and unwavering in his faith, despite so many overwhelming obstacles. I am tearing up right now thinking about him. I love to hear of his positivity and would also like to be contacted if there were a list of needs for this man and his family.

•Laurie Barbosa: He amazes me. I know he can’t be feeling all that great, but he still puts on his sign and walks. I was driving to work doing the Monday morning grumble and the moment I saw him, my attitude changed.

•Nancy Loen: I know this man and yes he does have pancreatic cancer. He loves all and wants everyone to know that Jesus loves all of you.

•Becky Matthias Jones: I’m very sad to hear of this news. Please post how we can help this man and his family. He selflessly spread his message, and I feel we need to show him how he affects us all with his message and dedication.

•Roxie Heidecker Nickerson: Gary is an awesome man who has taken seriously our direction from God to go out and spread the Word.  I am teary eyed reading all these comments here and seeing how he has touched so many lives. I believe our Lord is reviewing all this and saying, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

•Suzanne Soule: I’m not a religious person, but his dedication, even in the midst of all of the adversity in his life, never fails to move me and brighten my day every time I see him. And this outpouring of love for him brought tears to my eyes. He has touched so many lives.”

•Susan Rhodes Brewer: He is a well-loved man. I don’t think he knows what impact he has had on so many. He’s been on my mind and in my thoughts and prayers here lately, and I’ve never even met him. I so do miss seeing him. God bless him.