Melvin Hasse

Melvin M. Hasse, age 79, of Atwater, died Tuesday morning, February 12, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.
Memorial services will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 16, at St. John Lutheran Church in rural Atwater. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services. Arrangements are with the Atwater Funeral Home (320-974-8377, www.petersonbrothers.com).
Melvin Martin Hasse was born on May 20, 1928, in rural Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, the son of Martin and Elsie (Smith) Hasse. He grew up and received his education in the rural Sleepy Eye community and began farming on the family farm at the age of nine years old. On July 13, 1948, he married Grace Thompson in Plainview. In 1967, Melvin retired from farming and began working as a carpenter, a dream he had for many years. Melvin and Grace lived in Sleepy Eye, St. Peter and New Ulm, before retiring to their lake home on Diamond Lake near Atwater in 1992. Melvin enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He was a family man and helped to build or remodel his children's homes. His greatest joy was fishing and he loved fishing with Grace, his five daughters or friends. He also dearly loved his poodle, Buffy, whom he considered "his only son." He will be deeply missed by all.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Grace; five daughters, Becky Peterson of Long Prairie, Gwen Hasse of New Ulm, Penny Hasse of Atwater, Terry Grathwohl "Eita" of Mankato and Carmen (and Denny) Walser of New Ulm; 14 grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; a brother, Dick (and Donna) Hasse of Mendota, Illinois; three sisters, Marge (and Ed) Tradeup of Brewster, Washington; Inez Gehrke of Iowa City, Iowa; and Dorothy Parker of Gary Indiana; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Donald Hasse, Orville Hasse, and Gilbert Hasse; and a sister, Alice Haessig.