Cody Haar

life story

Our beloved Cody passed away unexpectedly on February 8, 2026 at the age of 35, from an apparent underlying heart condition.

Cody was born on May 13th, 1990 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and grew up in Afton, Minnesota.

His life was marked by a love of the natural world, adventure, culinary arts and his friends and family. As a child, Cody spent many happy seasons with family, including summers with extended family on the beaches of Maine; autumns spent hunting with his dad, Burl; and winters spent cultivating a life-long love of skiing on his hometown slopes of Afton Alps.

While attending Stillwater Area High School (where he graduated in 2009) Cody developed a passion for cooking and the culinary arts. Cody went from working at his local Afton House Inn as a teenager to serving as a sous chef and chef de cuisine at a variety of restaurants and country clubs across the Twin Cities. Most recently, he served as sous chef at the Royal Sonesta hotel in Minneapolis, and as a trainer for the German professional food equipment company Rational. Cody was known as a dedicated chef in the kitchens he worked, whose patience and kindness made him an especially good teacher and trainer of others.

Cody loved trying new techniques in the kitchen, and would treat his family to exquisite home-cooked gourmet meals on holidays and birthdays. He and his family shared many happy evenings in the kitchen, making collaborative meals together while having cocktails, playing cribbage and watching the Timberwolves (Cody’s favorite).

Cody had an explorer’s heart, and he loved the outdoors and travel; among his favorite spots were Vancouver, Canada, and White Sands, New Mexico. He enjoyed many skiing and kayaking trips and loved a good road trip to a national park or music festival. He was blessed with great friends, with whom he shared many memorable adventures.

Cody leaves behind his parents, Kitty Kilmer and Burl Haar; his sister Mallory Haar and brother-in-law Nick Schroeder; and many beloved nieces, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Uncle Cody was adored by his nieces Leoni and Yollie, and would draw and play tirelessly with them and taught them how to make the world’s best Christmas cookies. Cody will be remembered by his family for his integrity, his gentleness, his wry sense of humor, and his commitment to those he loved.

Memorial Site & Information about Services

Cody's family put together a memorial site in his honor with many more pictures and memories. codyhaarmemorial.wordpress.com

We will be having a celebration of life for Cody in summer of 2026. If you would like to receive an email with updated information, please fill out this form, and a family member will be in touch.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScBRSWnGyGIlRuWj8T4K-luBnUsrOfUnleFha45Xpw9N_HtLA/viewform