St. George, UT - Banard Ervin Hafen passed peacefully from this earth at home on Thursday, Oct. 25 surrounded by his family. Grandson of John George Hafen, one of the Swiss founders of Santa Clara, Banard was born in Santa Clara on November 20, 1921 the third of five children of Ivie Graff Hafen and Franklin Samuel Hafen.

Though Dad was almost 91 years old, he continued to play golf three days a week until August when he decided he had played long enough. Dad shot an 86 in his last game, and his buddies claimed he was quitting before they had a chance to get back all the money they lost to him over the years. A sportswriter once wrote that Banard was "one of the best athletes to ever come out of Southern Utah." A natural in basketball, baseball and football, he started on teams in junior high and high school as well as Dixie Jr. College. Banard went on to the University of Utah and played football and baseball. He was selected to play in the Shriner's East-West College All-Star football game as a junior and senior. In 1940 he joined the National Guard (because "you got a dollar for only showing up once a month"). In March of 1941, his unit was activated and he, along with many other young Dixie men, went to San Luis Obispo for training. It was while driving back from California that he heard about Pearl Harbor on the car radio. By May, 1943 he was in England with the 351st Engineer battalion, then in France until the end of WWII. Upon his return Banard went back to the U of U to finish his schooling and play football. He came home to St. George for Thanksgiving in 1947 where he met Dixie co-ed McVoy Holt on a blind date and were married on June 11, 1948. The couple went to Salt Lake City where he completed his degree in Education. He planned on earning a Masters Degree, but was instead drafted by the Detroit Lions where he played for the 1949 and 1950 seasons. He heard the Federal Bureau of Investigation was hiring Special Agents and his 21-year FBI career began -- first with an assignment in Kansas City, MO, then St. Louis, IL before transferring to Las Vegas, NV where he retired in 1972. During those years, Banard and McVoy started their family and had four daughters. After retiring from the F.B.I., Banard worked as Chief Investigator for hotel security for Howard Hughes Summa Corp. in Las Vegas. He and McVoy returned to Southern Utah in 1982 to enjoy their retirement years together. Banard exemplified the F.B.I. motto of "integrity, loyalty and bravery"he was always so dependable, strong and capable. We feel incredibly blessed that he was our Dad. McVoy, his wife of 53 years, passed away in 2002 and Banard was visited often by his daughters, Susan Henderson; Sally Tielemans (Anton); Laurie Hafen; Elaine Krause (Curtis); 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by brothers Vere and Kay and sister Leah Huff.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 2, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd., St. George, UT. A visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to services at the mortuary. Interment will be at the Holt Family Cemetery in Enterprise, UT at 2:30 p.m. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221.