Robert Dale Hasseler

Robert Dale Hasseler 1926-2020

Words of Life, Words of Hope,
Give us strength, help us cope,
In this world, where-e'er we roam,
Ancient Words will guide us home.

Robert Dale Hasseler was guided home on Monday, February 24, 2020, surrounded by the love of his family. Robert, better known as Bob, was born on November 21, 1926, in Joubert, South Dakota, to Jennie and John Hasseler, Sr. He is survived by his brother, Ben Hasseler of Oregon. his wife Rena, his four children, his six grandchildren, and his great-grandchild. Sister Beatrice (Hasseler) DeLange and brother, John Hasseler, Jr., are deceased.

As a young man with an eye for beauty, he set his sights on marrying Rena Van Vuren, after spotting her in a car full of girls, during an evening of the infamous small-town teen social activity "riding around" in Platte, South Dakota. He had the good sense to walk up to that car full of young women and choose Rena, who he grew to love and marry - a marriage that celebrated their devotion to each other for 68 years. Following their wedding in the Platte Christian Reformed Church, on June 22, 1951, Bob and Rena settled down in Platte.

Before his marriage to Rena, Bob pursued his love of cars by dabbling in car sales with good friend Marlowe DeLange. He also fondly recalled his early days driving the Rumley thresher one mph from farm to farm for the Hasseler family threshing business. In 1950, Bob completed a correspondence "Course in Practical Radio and Television specializing in Servicing," which entitled him to be a "Radiotrician and Teletrician." He studied for this course in an old chicken coop with a light wired to a battery and graduated on March 9, 1950. His initial job as an electrician gave him the privilege of bringing electricity to farms around Platte via the Rural Electric Association. He brought electricity to Herbert and Kenno (Bulstma) VanVuren's farm, his future father-in-law and mother-in-law. In 1951 he bought an electronics appliance store in Platte soon to become Platte TV and Appliance. For 38 years, he did business with and provided service to many people in Platte and surrounding communities. He sold and serviced stereos, TVs, radios, washer/dryers, refrigerators/freezers, CBs, satellite dishes, and many other electronic devices. As a repairman, he could fix anything, and he did. As a businessman, though a man of few words, he was creative and savvy - at times bartering to close a deal. A side of beef for a refrigerator? Why not? He was a tireless worker on the job from morning until night. Yet he found time to come home for lunch every day to see his wife and young children.

Bob and Rena welcomed four children into the world, Ken, Lois, Lynda, and Roberta, thus establishing one of the most significant aspects of who Bob was - a devoted Dad, deeply proud of his children, and for whom he provided generously throughout their lives. Bob's children graduated from Calvin College thanks to Bob and Rena's commitment to their children's education. For as long as they were able, Bob and Rena attended games, concerts, theatre productions, and other important moments in the lives of their children and grandchildren, covering many miles in the process.

Ken and Sue (Schneider) Hasseler, Lois and Rick Van Enk, Lynda Hasseler, and Roberta and Paul Carver are grateful for the extraordinary person their father was and for the many profound ways he influenced their lives. Bob was also a loving Grandpa whose kind, and gentle ways blessed the lives of his grandchildren: Jon Hasseler, Mallory (DeWeerd) Hasseler and great-grandson, Lewis Dale Hasseler, Kaitlin (Hasseler) and Peter Levenstrong, Lauren Van Enk and fiancé Albert Kang, Leah Van Enk and Kevin Leep, Hannah Hasseler, and Ashley (Carver) and Matt Diemer.

For as unassuming as he was, Bob was a person of depth with many talents, including those mentioned above. He was a man of faith who humbly served God every day by the way he lived his life and conducted his business. He was a creative gardener and photographer. Later in life, he became a compelling story and joke teller. He possessed a significant sweet tooth, which fueled his passion for ice cream. Most of all, Bob was a man with a strong heart. When listening to Bob's heart in the last few hours of his life, the Hospice nurse said, "He has a strong heart." And now that strong heart of Robert Dale Hasseler resounds in the hearts of his loved ones and "with God's own heart."

Holy words long preserved
for our walk in this world,
They resound with God's own heart
Oh, let the Ancient words impart.
Ever True.

Memorial services in celebration of Bob's life will be held at a later date. Details to follow.

Please send condolences or memorials to: Rena Hasseler at 5749 Stadium Dr., Apt. 116, Kalamazoo, MI 49009.

Bob's family requests that rather than sending flowers, they would like people make a donation to the Alzheimer's Association at https://www.alz.org/ in memory of Robert Dale Hasseler.

Please visit Bob's personalized webpage to sign his online guest book and leave a message or condolence for his family at: https://www.langelands.com