Glen E. Hasse

June 3, 1939 - May 17, 2011

Glen Edward Hasse, age 71, of Columbia, Tennessee collapsed Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 2:07 P.M. at home of a sudden heart attack. He was born June 3, 1939 in Appleton, Colorado and graduated from Central High School in Grand Junction, Colorado in 1957. He was voted “Outstanding Wrestler” in the 120-pound championship in the Rocky Mountain Conference, played football as a quarterback, served on student council, was selected to attend a leadership conference in Denver, Colorado, and even broke his own peach picking record when at the age of 17 he
picked 202 bushels of peaches surpassing his prior record of 171 bushels in Palisade, Colorado.

Following high school graduation Glen worked 60 to 70 hours per week for a highway construction company. He enrolled that September in college at the Colorado School of Mines. He entered Mines with money saved from the construction job, a promise of a part-time job, lend/lease books, and an inexpensive apartment. The $119 tuition each semester seemed like a very steep price. He felt that he should have paid more attention to his high school teachers. The 22 semester hours were bad enough without being placed into a college chemistry course without having taken high school chemistry. Thanks to an extensive study schedule, a wrestling scholarship, part-time jobs, and student and family loans, he graduated in January 1962 with a Professional Metallurgical Engineering Degree.

He met his future wife, Kathy Bates, at a “fraternity rush” function on the University of Colorado campus at the start of his junior year. Glen and Kathy were married August 29, 1961 in Columbus, Ohio. They returned to Boulder, Colorado where Glen finished summer school and a work/credit course, and Kathy began teaching school in Denver. His Masters’ Degree business school program was interrupted after one year when their four-year child plan was reduced to two years. His first job was as a process engineer with a defense contractor (Fansteel Metallurgical Corporation) in North Chicago, Illinois. Glen’s and Kathy’s first child was born in Waukegan, Illinois. He worked there just under three years and left due to his impatience for “climbing the ladder.” This is where Glen and Kathy met friends, who they see and travel with from time to time.

His next job was with a large aluminum company (Kaiser) in Newark, Ohio starting as a process engineer and progressing to production superintendent of three departments. The youngest child, Dione Kay, was born there. Glen and his family enjoyed living within 50 miles of Kathy’s parents. However, after eight years, Glen once again decided to leave for the “greener side of the fence.”

The family moved to Columbia, Tennessee where Glen managed two aluminum plants (Conalco). He really enjoyed the friendly people, the “word of mouth” method of conducting business, the small town atmosphere, temperate climate, and the rolling hills. After five years Glen had another career change.

The family moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Glen went to work for a lead-acid battery recycling plant (Schuylkill Metals Corporation later becoming Exide Corporation). He became vice and then executive vice president. What Glen liked about working for a small company was that he got the opportunity to perform all different types of jobs. He stayed with the company 25 years and retired. He really enjoyed the weather, exceptional cuisine, and LSU football. He did some technical consulting work after retirement, the bulk of which was helping a friend start a large PVC compounding plant in Hohenwald, Tennessee.

Glen and Kathy moved back to Columbia, Tennessee in 2003 to be closer to their only grandson, Alexander, who lives in Franklin, Tennessee. He enjoyed visiting Baton Rouge as frequently as possible to see his oldest daughter who lives in Prairieville, to attend LSU football games, and to get a south Louisiana cuisine “fix”. Since Glen was not much of a golfer, did not have an all-encompassing hobby, and the PVC plant work was now minimal, Glen started volunteering for community service. He served on the Boards of the Family Center, Keep Maury Beautiful, Rippavilla Plantation, and White Caps Condominium in Orange Beach, Alabama. He was heavily involved with cleaning up litter along roadsides and the Duck River in Maury County.

His volunteering efforts led him to run for County Commissioner, the grandfather of volunteering efforts. As an “outsider” his only hope of being elected was a door-to-door campaign. He was elected after knocking on 2,165 doors. His pay as a “fee based” local official for the four year term was not enough to cover his campaign expenses; however, to quote Glen “I am enjoying the opportunity to help many people”. Glen’s latest passion was to help Maury County develop a Metro style of government whose goal would be to eventually eliminate wasteful government spending and to resolve the issue of conflict of interest. He was currently proudly serving on the Metro Charter Commission as an appointee of Mayor Jim Bailey and felt that the fellow members of the commission were doing an excellent job. His mission was to serve.

Glen was honored a few years ago when The Colorado School of Mines Athletic Department inducted the 1961 wrestling team into their Hall of Fame. This team placed second in the small college national (NAIA) tournament. He had placed third.

Glen Hasse was preceded in death by his parents (Sam) Yoshiro Hasse and Eula Belle (Hubbard) Hasse; his oldest brother Raymond Carl Hasse, Los Angeles, California; and two older sisters Irma Jean Guire, Denver, Colorado; and Norma June Hasse, Grand Junction, Colorado. Left to mourn his loss are his wife of nearly 50 years, Kathleen Bates Hasse of Columbia, TN; daughter Dee Ann Hasse, Prairieville, Louisiana; daughter Dione Kay Hasse Harr, terrific grandson Alexander Hasse; son-in-law Paul Harr, Franklin, Tennessee; older brothers Harold Hasse, Albuquerque, NM; William S. Hasse, Albuquerque, NM; older sisters Neva Ruth Davis, Grand Junction, Colorado; Betty Lu Stephens, Mobile, Alabama; younger sister Rose Ann Hurd, and brother-in-law Dr. Clint Hurd, Opelika, Alabama; brother-in-law Sam D. Bates, Columbus, Ohio; special cousins-in-law John and Nancy Hall, Irvine, CA; numerous nephews and nieces; and friends.

Pall Bearers are: Alexander Hasse, Paul Harr, John Hall, Shizen Hasse, Ezell Rose, Gary Wedlake, Rick Miller, Waymon Hickman, Mayor Jim Bailey, the Bruce Strothers' Sunday School Class, and the Maury County Commissioners that formerly served with Glen Hasse.

Funeral Services will be held at First United Methodist Church, 222 W. 7th Street, Columbia, TN 38401 on Sunday, May 22, 2011. Friends may visit the church from 1:30 to 3:30 P.M. The family will also receive friends at Maury Memorial Gardens, Saturday, May 21, 2011 from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. The service officiated by Reverend Melinda Britt and Reverend Scott Aleridge will follow at 3:30 P.M. Entombment will be at Maury Memorial Gardens; 609 Bear Creek Pike; Columbia, TN 38401. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Bruce Strothers’ Sunday School Class at First United Methodist Church, 222 W. 7th Street, Columbia, TN 38401 (931-388-3306) where Glen attended Sunday School or to Keep Maury Beautiful, 308 West 7th Street, Columbia, TN 38401 (931-388-8511) directed toward the recycling and annual clean-up campaigns (phone: 931-388-8511).

You may send private or public condolences to the Hasse family at this website; click on “sign guest book” or “send private condolences.”