Francis L. “Fran” Hassler II  Veteran

Birth

16 Apr 1923

McCook, Red Willow County, Nebraska, USA

Death

15 May 2013 (aged 90)

McCook, Red Willow County, Nebraska, USA

Burial

Saint Patrick Calvary Cemetery

McCook, Red Willow County, Nebraska

Francis "Fran" L. Hassler, age 90, died at the Community Hospital of McCook on Wednesday, May 15, 2013. Fran was born in McCook on April 16, 1923, to Francis, I and Honora (Moore) Hassler.

Fran attended St. Patrick's Catholic School, McCook, Nebraska and graduated from McCook (NE.) High School in 1940. Fran was an outstanding athlete, lettering in basketball. He enjoyed American Legion Baseball in the summer months and was an all-stater and recruited by the St. Louis Cardinals and the St. Louis Browns, a career interrupted by World War II. Fran enrolled at McCook (NE.) Community College and played basketball, graduated in 1942. He was a starter on the team which became the Nebraska Junior College Champions with a record of 16 and 3. One of those victories was against the famous Harlem Globe Trotters in a 42-37 victory. His basketball skills attracted the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. He transferred to The University of Nebraska at Lincoln in the fall of 1942. After just one semester, he volunteered for the Army Air Corps. He was trained as both a pilot and a radio operator. He saw service in the European Theatre. He received major wounds on Dec. 24, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge. He eventually underwent rehabilitation at Bushnell Hospital in Brigham City, Utah.

After the war, Fran returned to McCook, Nebraska where he was united in marriage to Donna Dee Burroughs on Aug. 8, 1946. Donna preceded him in death in 1990. Fran began his long term career at the U.S. Postal Service. He retired in 1978 from the Postal Service, having risen through the ranks to become McCook, Nebraska Postmaster.

Fran was an avid sports fan, observant Roman Catholic, a member of the St. Patrick's Catholic Church, McCook, Nebraska. He was a member of the American Legion Post No. 0203, The VFW Post No. 1652, McCook Elks all of McCook, Nebraska and National Association of Postmasters of United States. Fran was a committed Democrat in a mostly Republican state.

Fran was preceded in death by: parents; wife, Donna Hassler; brothers, Joseph and Robert Hassler and sister, Eleanor.

Fran is survived by: daughters, Elizabeth and husband, Robert Hoyt; Maureen and husband, Lonnie Wood, both of McCook, Nebraska; sons, Jerry and wife, Kathleen of Phoenix, Arizona and Robert of Omaha, Nebraska; 10 grandchildren: two step-grandchildren; eight great-grand-children; two step great-grandchildren; sister, Mary Ann Comminiello of Denver, Colorado and special friend, Jo Smolczyk.

Interment was in the Calvary Cemetery, McCook, Nebraska.