John L. Hasselmeier Sr.

John L. Hasselmeier, Sr. LUBBOCK-John L. Hasselmeier, Sr., of Lubbock, passed away Sunday, May 24, 2015. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, May 28. 2015, in the Evergreen Cemetery of Paris, Texas, under the direction of Starett Funeral Home. Roy Carnes and Larry Mullican, longtime friends, will be officiating. John was born Dec. 3. 1927, in Paris, Texas, the son of Oliver John and Mary Ellen Steinberg Hasselmeier. He began his education at Fourth Ward school and graduated from Paris High School in 1945. He then joined the U.S. Army and went to Japan. John served for two years at the end of World War II with the First Calvary Division. With the G.I. Bill, he then went to college at Southern Methodist University, East Texas Teacher's College (now Texas A&M Commerce), and then graduated from Texas Tech University. After completing his undergraduate and graduate degrees, he began a long education career with the Lubbock Independent School District. John began teaching at Carroll Thompson Junior High. He coached and taught there for several years and was popular with students, some of whom still kept in touch with him. John married Virginia Sue Brown of Lubbock County on Nov. 1, 1957. She preceded him in death on Nov. 13, 2001. John and Sue were the parents of Pamela Ginder of Eugene, OR, and John Lewis, Jr. of Lubbock. With the start of the 1960-61 school year, John began a career as an elementary school principal. From 1960 until 1975 he was the principal at North Avenue U and Southeast schools. Beginning the 1975-76 school year he became the principal of Arnett Elementary School and remained there until his retirement at the end of the 1986-87 school year at the age of 59. From a very early age John loved to fish. His favorite area was South Padre Island, Texas, which he last visited in 2006. John liked airplanes and western movies. He was a longtime member of the National Rifle Association and also was interested in ham radio and did some weather watching. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, as well as a sister, Geraldine Floyd. Survivors include his children; a sister-in-law, Margaret Johnston of Lubbock; several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews and scores of friends.