Paul E. Hassman

paul hassman
Paul Ernest Hassman, age 108, of New Hampton, Iowa, passed away peacefully at the New Hampton Nursing & Rehabilitation Center on Thursday, February 10, 2022. Funeral services for Paul will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, February 17, 2022 at the Harvest Church in New Hampton with Pastors Doug Harvey and David Byrd officiating. Arrangements are by the Conway-Markham Funeral Home. Because of COVID-19, the family requests that friends and family attending wear masks. If you are unable to join the family at the church, please join the family via Facebook through Conway-Markham Funeral Home’s Facebook page. Burial will be at the New Hampton Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00- 7:00 PM on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 at the Conway-Markham Funeral Home in New Hampton and will continue at the church one hour prior to the funeral service on Thursday. Online condolences may be left at www.conway-markhamfh.com. Born near New Hartford, IA on January 23, 1914, Paul was the fourth child of five children (three boys; two girls) of German immigrants Carl and Wilhelmina “Minnie” (Gribbe) Hassman of Bramloge and Neustadtgödens (East Frisia) respectively. Paul often quipped, “I couldn’t be more German than if I was born there [Germany].” When Paul was three years old, the family moved to a farm bordering the Wapsipinicon River in Richland Township of rural New Hampton. One of Paul’s jokes was, “We weren’t born in a log cabin, but we moved to one as soon as we could.” Another joke was, “My first job was parking covered wagons.” Paul attended grade school at the nearest country school on the west side of the river. He attended New Hampton High School, graduating in 1933. Paul worked at the Northern Lumber Yard and also worked two summers for the DeKalb Company in DeKalb, IL. Paul was the head crew member of a corn harvesting crew. Paul attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa in 1936 and 1937. There he met the love of his life Lucille Reavis, from Ft. Smith, AR. Lucille received a home economics degree in 1938; taught one year; and then married Paul on May 21, 1939 in Ft. Smith, AR. Paul and Lucille went on to raise a large family. Eight children were born from 1940 to 1956. Their first married year, Paul and Lucille lived near Williamstown, IA and Boyd, IA and farmed both places. In 1940 they moved into New Hampton where Paul expanded his trucking business. MoorMan’s feed was delivered to thirteen Northeast Iowa counties. Paul also bought and sold grain. Hassman Elevator and Trucking remained in business until the early 1970’s. Paul began working as a licensed real estate agent. He sold lots, houses in town, and farm properties. Privately, Paul built and sold duplexes. He was part-owner of the Kumeth Baby Bed Company. After retirement Paul had more time for hobbies. He completed ten RAGBRAI rides. His daily fitness passions included walking and bicycling around New Hampton. Paul’s favorite board game was Scrabble; friends came often to play with him. Paul was an enthusiastic American Red Cross blood donor; he donated hundreds of pints. Paul’s lifetime community involvements, accomplishments, and honors are legion, beginning with his win of “Iowa State Wrestling Champion” in the 155-pound class in 1933; and election to Iowa’s FFA vice president position in 1934-1935. It was not uncommon for high school graduates to continue in FFA. To provide more information about Paul's broad spectrum of honors and achievements, a more detailed life biography will be made accessible on the Internet. Paul’s wife Lucille died in 1991, and Paul lived for thirty-one more years remembering and warmly speaking of her. He lived on South Broadway across from the New Hampton Public Grade School. Paul quipped, “Living by a school will keep me young.” He moved into Kensington Place, an assisted living facility, in 2012; in July 2019 he became a resident of the New Hampton Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. Paul also is preceded in death by his parents Carl and Minnie; his siblings Clarence Hassman, Elmer Hassman, Helen Schilling, and Mabel Rietveld; his oldest son Dean in 2000; and a daughter-in-law Thelma (Raymond) Hassman of Hudson, WI in 2017. Paul is survived by Sarah McDowell Hassman (Dean) of Denver, CO; Mary (John) Argeropoulos of Marquette, MI; Gordon (Sarah) Hassman of Playa Del Ray, CA; Raymond Hassman of Hudson, WI; Rebecca (Leonard) Splittstoesser of Houston, MN; Gene (Linnea) Hassman of Cedar Rapids, IA; John (Kathleen) of Cedar Falls, IA; and Kevin (Janice) of New Hampton, Iowa. Paul has fifteen grandchildren; 41 great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild. Pallbearers are six grandchildren; the remaining nine grandchildren are honorary pallbearers. Memorials may be directed to One Vision, formerly Opportunity Village, an organization that Paul supported many years by raising money during the Opportunity Village walks in May of each year. The family of Paul wishes to extend sincere thanks to staff of the New Hampton Nursing & Rehabilitation Center; staff of the Howard County Community Hospice and Home Health Services; and members of the Harvest Church and the local Rotary organization who continued to befriend Paul into his 109th year. Paul’s faith was very strong and a guiding force in his life. Paul's Christian example is a strong legacy.

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  1. For sure one of the kindest people a person could ever meet! I always enjoyed a quick visit with Paul. May he Rest in Peace!

  2. God Bless his sweet and amazing heart ❤️ sympathy for Paul’s family and friends!!! A true legend 🙏❤🙏❤

  3. I am so thankful for Paul’s example of a life well-lived for Jesus. I’ll never forget holding his hand as we sang “Blessed Be the Tie That Binds.” Well done, good and faithful servant.

  4. I remember Paul when I worked maintenance at nhnrc and Kensington place he was always smiling and loved to ride his bike

  5. Kevin, you and your family have my deepest sympathy. I always loved visiting with him when I worked at Kensington Place. He used to talk about my grandpa a lot. Prayers are with you all. 🙏

  6. We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ Conway-Markham Funeral Home – New Hampton

  7. Deepest sympathy to Paul’s family. Loved the conversations all the years I waitressed and served him and his family for years.

  8. Heaven has certainly gained a wise, kind, and generous soul. Extending our deepest sympathy to Paul’s family. May he Rest In Peace. 🙏🏻🙏🏻

  9. My deepest sympathy and prayers to Paul’s family. He was such a kind and amazing person….an inspiriation to all who knew him.

  10. My deepest sympathy to the entire Hassman family. Paul was a strong leader and well loved man by those who knew him. May he rest in peace.

  11. My deepest sympathy. Such a wonderful man. I am blessed to have gotten to know Paul and even though it was for a short time he left such a impression on my heart. Rest in peace my friend.

  12. My family lived in New Hampton during my elementary school years. The Hassman family lived nearby, attended our church and were great friends ❤️. My brothers too has friendships with the sons. Blessings to the family.

  13. Paul was an amazing man, who had many accomplishments and adventures!! Cherish the memories….Sympathy to your family!!

  14. Paul was definitely a very special man, such a pleasure to talk with. He will be missed by many. My sympathies to his family.

  15. Paul was one of the first people we met when we moved to New Hampton in 1980. He owned the duplex we rented and I’ll never forget him visiting with us and wanting to make sure we found a church home, even if it wasn’t his church. He was a man of true faith and dedication that should serve as an inspiration to us all.

  16. Paul was such a kind & humble Godly man. I could share many memories, but my favorite was the year Paul volunteered to help teach VBS. He was in the 100 yr old range then. His job was teaching the Bible story about Saul/Paul on the road to Damascus. The kids came through in small groups. After one group, Paul came to the kitchen bleeding from his arms. I put bandaids on his papery skin. After the next group came through, Paul was back with new areas bleeding! As I bandaged him again, I asked how he was injuring himself. It seems as he told the story about Saul falling on the road, Paul was actually throwing himself on the floor to be more realistic!! We quickly assured him he didn’t need to be so realistic, and the kids would still get the message. He literally threw himself into what he was doing.

  17. Paul: Thank you for your many conversations and your financial support of our Character Counts Program when I was elementary principal. You would come into my office and take a chair and we always had a great visit. You told me all about your beloved wife who had gone before you. Thank you for being my friend, Paul Hassman. You are unforgettable. Rest In Peace.

  18. What a gentleman. He was always so nice to visit with I visited my parents at Kensington. Rest in Peace, Paul

  19. Dear cousins and families. We share in your sadness at your dad’s passing. We also share in your joy at Uncle Paul and Aunt Lucille being reunited for eternity. We are grateful all of you were blessed with birth into a loving and caring family. Roger and Karen Schilling

  20. I’m sure going to miss all the stories he would tell me and all the jokes he’d tell me . He was definitely a great man! My condolences and sympathy goes out to the family! He sure knew how to make you smile and laugh! 🙏❤️

  21. Paul was certainly an example of a kind and generous man for all of us to learn from. Our prayers and sympathy to the entire Hassman family.

  22. Hey Uncle Paul, what a journey you had !! Now is the time for the next one, you and Aunt Lucille together 💕. Be at peace … Love Shirley and Scott

  23. His generosity to various entities such as the school, library, Opportunity Village and Rotary made a difference in our community and the world. But even more importantly, his generous sharing of his friendship, wisdom, and integrity impacted hundreds of people lucky enough to call him “friend”. I will miss all of that.

  24. Paul was such a special person,Tom always loved visiting with him, may he RIP.Prayers for the family, Marian Gebel

  25. Sincere condolences to Paul’s family – what a life he lived. Enjoyed visiting with him when he and my Mom where both at Kensington.

  26. A New Hampton Icon. Paul always shared a bit of good advice when visiting with him. Our condolences to family.

  27. I knew Paul through Rotary and for several years, he was the oldest member while I was the youngest. I appreciated his quick witt and ability to get a whole room laughing at a joke. He had a wonderful smile. My condolences to his family and friends.

  28. Condolences to the family, Wilda and Charlie Albrecht knew the family since 1955. Dean and I were classmates. After military I worked for Paul for a couple of years driving truck, but we kept in touch since then. I truly felt honored to be working for such a good man. You are all touched by his values as I believe we have. We cannot be present today or tomorrow as we are out of town. God Bless You all, Charlie Albrecht

  29. Paul was one of the first to greet us when we visited First Baptist Church shortly after we moved to New Hampton in 1978. He was our neighbor, friend, & a patient that Richard throughly enjoyed caring for. We had the pleasure of serving with Paul on many church boards, & we gained knowledge & benefitted from his life’s wisdom in that association. We are thankful for our last visit in June 2021 when we had a lively & most memorable time. We are sure he is most happy to be finally “home” but we will miss his quick wit & ready smile. Richard & Brita Reams

  30. Dear Katie Boehmer and the Hassman Family, You have my sympathy in the passing of your grandpa and father. Paul was so cheerful and so enjoyed a ride about town and a good challenge in scrapel. Treasure your memories.

  31. Paul was quite a guy I also got to know him through rotary and enjoyed his quick wit and positive attitude, certainly a person we all should strive to model in life!

  32. Paul meant a lot to my dad, and his faith and dedication within our church was influential on me during my early years. I am very grateful that I had the chance to visit him in 2018 and share conversations.

  33. Paul Hassman was the strongest and most caring man I knew during my elementary, junior high, and high school years in New Hampton. The Hassman home was always open, warm, and welcoming to all. Many bad weather days were passed happily with board games, ping pong, and table pool with Gene, his brothers and sisters, and neighbors. I learned so much about high school wrestling, just sitting with Paul as he proudly watched his sons in competition at the high school wrestling meets. A most humble happy man, husband, father, and friend describes the Paul that I knew growing up, and the example of Christ for us all to follow. Well done, good and faithful servant. Your heavenly reward is now beginning. You ran the race with honor and left a legacy for the rest of us to aspire to. Hungerford condolences to the family, and thanks for sharing your father with all of us.

  34. My sympathies, Gordon. I happened to be on the IWHOF website and saw their notice of your dad’s death. What a life he must have lived. I have a very distinct memory of him. We crossed paths in the auditorium after you and I had completed the 103 title match. Your dad complemented me on my performance. How incredibly gracious that was. I also remember meeting him again when he was with you for Joe Frank’s IWHOF induction. All the best, Don Henry

  35. My name is Madinah Hasan Barrett Barksdale. Yesterday, March 19, 2022, I looked up one of my most memorable teachers online and I have been mind blown since. I learned my high school drivers education teacher was a former wrestling champion as was his Father Mr. Paul Hassman. I have read so very many good things about Mr. Paul Hassman in the past few hours and I learned why my former teacher, Mr. Gordon Hassman was such a cool dude. My condolences to the very large Hassman family. You are truly Blessed to have had such a wonderful man as Mr. Paul Hassman in your lives for so many years. Rest well Mr. Paul Hassman 🕊️


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