Jon Hassler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jon Hassler
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| Born | March 30, 1933 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
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| Died | March 20, 2008 (aged 74) St. Louis Park, Minnesota
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| Education | St. John's University (B.A.) University of North Dakota (M.A.) |
| Occupation | Writer, educator |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | St. John's University Brainerd Community College Bemidji State University |
| Writing career | |
| Notable works | Staggerford |
Jon Hassler (born March 30, 1933 – died March 20, 2008) was an American writer and teacher. He was famous for his novels that often told stories about everyday life in small towns in Minnesota. He also taught at St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota.
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About Jon Hassler
Jon Hassler was born in Minneapolis, but he grew up in the small Minnesota towns of Staples and Plainview. He finished high school there.
He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts in English, from St. John's University in 1955. While teaching English at three different high schools in Minnesota, he also got his second degree, a Master of Arts in English, from the University of North Dakota in 1960.
He continued teaching high school until 1965. After that, he started teaching at colleges. He taught at Bemidji State University, then Central Lakes College (which was called Brainerd Community College back then), and finally at Saint John's University. At Saint John's, he became the Writer-in-Residence in 1980. This means he was a special writer who worked and taught at the university.
During his years as a high school teacher, Hassler got married and had three children. His first marriage lasted 25 years. He later married two more times, and his last wife was Gretchen Kresl Hassler.
In 1994, Jon Hassler was diagnosed with a disease called progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). This disease is similar to Parkinson's. It caused him to have problems with his vision, speaking, and walking. Even with these challenges, he was able to keep writing. It was reported that he finished a novel just a few days before he passed away. Jon Hassler died in 2008, when he was 74 years old, in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
The Jon Hassler Theater in Plainview, Minnesota, is named in his honor.
Jon Hassler's Books
Many of Jon Hassler's stories are about characters who are going through big changes in their lives. They often search for what truly matters to them. A lot of his main characters are Catholic, and his novels often explore how growing up in a small town can shape a person's life or limit their choices.
Hassler's novels often feature the same characters in different books. For example, Miles Pruitt appears in Staggerford and is mentioned in other books. Agatha McGee is another character who appears in several of his novels. Other recurring characters include Larry Quinn and Frank Healy.
Novels
- Staggerford (1977)
- Simon's Night (1979)
- The Love Hunter (1981)
- A Green Journey (1985)
- Grand Opening (1987)
- North of Hope (1990)
- Dear James (1993)
- Rookery Blues (1995)
- The Dean's List (novel) (1998)
- The Staggerford Flood (2002)
- The Staggerford Murders (2004)
- The New Woman (2005)
Short Story Collections
- Keepsakes and Other Stories (2000)
- Rufus at the Door and Other Stories (2000)
Nonfiction Books
- Saint John's in Pictures - Introduction (1994)
- My Staggerford Journal (1999)
- Good People... from an Author's Life (2001)
- Stories Teachers Tell (2004)
Children's Books
- Four Miles to Pinecone (1977)
- Jemmy (novel) (1980)
Book to Screen Adaptations
In 1990, Jon Hassler's novel A Green Journey was made into a television movie. It was called The Love She Sought and starred famous actors Angela Lansbury and Denholm Elliott.
See also
In Spanish: Jon Hassler para niños
