[Deathwatch] Jon Hassler, author, 74

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

More thanks to a long-time reader for this one.

'Staggerford' author Jon Hassler dies at 74

Jon Hassler is best known for writing about small towns in books such
as Staggerford and Grand Opening.

By Jeff Baenen, Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS ? Author Jon Hassler, who chronicled the foibles of
small-town life in Staggerford,Grand Opening and other novels after
starting his career late in life, has died. He was 74.

Hassler, who suffered from a longtime neurological disorder, died early
Thursday at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, said family friend
Nick Hayes. Hassler had been in home hospice care since the holidays
and entered the hospital on Monday, Hayes said.

Despite his deteriorating health, Hassler continued work on a book, Jay
O'Malley, until his death, Hayes said.

In a 1995 interview, Hassler told the Associated Press that he liked
writing about misfits. "You can't write a novel about somebody who's
perfectly happy," he said.

Hassler was born in Minneapolis in March 30, 1933, and grew up in the
small north-central Minnesota town of Staples, where his father owned a
grocery store. He graduated from St. John's University in Collegeville
in 1955 before receiving a master's from the University of North
Dakota. He spent years teaching before launching his writing career at
37.

He didn't publish his first novel, Staggerford, a semi-autobiographical
story about a high school teacher in a small town, until seven years
later. Hassler's other works include Simon's Night, 1979; The Love
Hunter, 1981; A Green Journey, 1986; Grand Opening, 1987; North of
Hope, 1990; and Dear James, 1993.

Funeral arrangements were pending.


Many thanks to Deathwatch Central for posting this obituary