Curtiss O. Hasse

Curtiss (Curt) Hasse

Curtiss Otto Hasse, 83, longtime Devils Lake businessman passed away on Friday, June 26th at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd in New Rockford, ND, under the care of Hospice, where he has resided since February 2019.

Curtiss was born on September 25, 1936 in Devils Lake to Curtiss Sr. & Christina (Dexheimer) Hasse. He was the youngest of 9 children. He grew up and attended school in St. Michael, ND. He was an altar boy and member of St. Michael Catholic Church in St. Michael, ND, and later a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Devils Lake.

In 1960, he entered into the United States Army and was stationed in Ft. Hood, TX. After being honorably discharged, he returned to Devils Lake and was united in marriage to Penelope (Penny) Bryn of Devils Lake. They were the proud parents of 3 daughters, Pamela, Paula and Patricia. In 1971, he obtained a Master Plumber license and started his own business, “Hasse Plumbing & Heating” in Devils Lake. He worked nearly 40 years until retiring and selling the business to Chaun Foughty.

Working hard, being honest and always doing your best were the principles upon which he lived, worked and ran his business. These were virtues he instilled into his daughters which he was very proud of. He taught his daughters to be independent and self sufficient much like their Mother Penny who was a nurse. They built their home on the shore of Creel Bay in Lakewood where they lived, worked, and raised their girls throughout the years. The family spent countless hours fishing, water skiing, swimming and boating. In the wintertime they enjoyed snowmobile trips with friends in the mountains of Montana, and the forests of Northern Minnesota. Four Wheeling was also something Curt enjoyed in his later years. He was an active member in the Lake Region Snowmobile Club and the BPOE in Devils Lake.

Anyone who knew Curt knew that he only had one speed which was full throttle! He walked fast, he drove fast, he didn’t believe in wasting time and was always on the go. No matter what life threw at him, he remained resilient. He always seemed younger than he was and we were sure he would outlive us all. He lived during a time when “dressing up in a suit/ tie and going out for dinner” was a sport. He was a sharp dresser and always kept himself in shape.

Once retired he most certainly was never idle. Many will remember him as the “Vegetable Guy”. Upon retirement he dove into serious gardening. He worked tirelessly tending to many acres of vegetables. He prided himself in planting organic, non GMO seeds. Each week he harvested and delivered hundreds of pounds of fresh produce to the local Farmers market right up until age 81. As a young boy, he learned master gardening skills from his parents who some may remember as having “Hasse Gardens” way back in the day. They grew and sold fresh vegetables long before produce was widely available in grocery stores.

Curt was an accomplished musician. He taught himself how to play the electric guitar at a very young age. He could play any type of music by ear, though he most enjoyed classical and jazz. He played in several bands over the years including the Dakota Ramblers. Curtiss played his guitar daily up until about a year ago when due to ill health he was no longer able.

Curtiss is survived by his daughters, Pamela Solga of East Grand Forks, MN, Paula (Cory) Anderson of Devils Lake, and Patricia (Jay) Schindele of Devils Lake, his Grandchildren, Anthony Solga of Devils Lake, Matthew Schindele of Devils Lake, and Rachel Schindele of Moorhead, MN, along with several cousins, nieces and nephews. Curtiss was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Penelope in 2008, all of his siblings including an infant Sister Eva Marie Hasse, Half Sisters, Eugenia Hintz, Katherine Kvalevog, Christina Mattern, Theresa Brown, Cecelia Kraft, and Half Brothers, Anton Miller, and George Weidenbach.

Curtiss is in the care of the Gilbertson Funeral Home of Devils Lake. A private family funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Devils Lake, and he will be laid to rest at the Devils Lake Cemetery with military honors.

Condolences may be posted or sent to www.gilbertsonfuneralhome.com or Hasse Family, c/o Gilbertson Funeral Home, Box 632 Devils Lake ND 58301.