John Lewis Hasselmeier Sr

Born December 3, 1927, died May 24, 2015 are the stone-cold facts to mark the passing of John Lewis Hasselmeier, 87.
But, in between, a long, long trail of accomplishment.
Dad died Sunday afternoon in the Palliative Care Services Unit of Covenant Hospital in Lubbock, Texas.
Military graveside services will be Thursday at 10 a.m. at Evergreen Cemetery under the auspices of Starett Funeral Home. Longtime friends Larry Mullican and Roy Carnes will be conducting the service.
Dad was born December 3, 1927 in Paris, Texas, the son of Oliver John and Mary Ellen Steinberg "Maizie" Hasselmeier.
He started out school at Fourth Ward for the 1934-35 school year and graduated from Paris High School in 1945.
Shortly after graduation, he joined the Army and served in Japan with the First Calvary Division. This was at the tail-end of World War II.
After coming back to America following his term of service, he went to college on the GI Bill.
He started out at SMU, transferred to East Texas Teachers College (now known as Texas A&M-Commerce) and then ended up at Texas Tech University. Before he was through, he earned both his undergraduate and masters degrees.
After graduating, it was on to a long career in the Lubbock Independent School District.
It started out at Carroll Thompson Junior High. He was there until the 1959-60 school year. He was very popular with the students, some of whom kept up with him all these years.
During his time there, he married Virginia Sue Brown of Lubbock. This was on November 1, 1957 and produced two children; Pamela Sue Ginder, 55, of Eugene, Oregon and John Lewis Hasselmeier Jr., 52, of Lubbock.
Starting with the 1960-61 school year until his retirement following the 1986-87 school year, he was an elementary school principal.
It started out at Neal Wright and Southeast and ended at Arnett Elementary School.
From an early age, he loved to fish. His favorite fishing spot was South Padre Island. He also liked fishing at Pat Mayse Lake, among other places.
Dad was also fond or airplanes and going into the mountains of New Mexico. He also liked war movies and barbecue.
His parents preceded him in death, as did his wife and a sister, Gerrie Floyd.
Survivors include his children, a sister-in-law, Margaret Johnston of Lubbock, numerous nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and nephews and friends.