Leopold Hassle

Leopold “Fritz” Hassle of Coloma, MI passed away peacefully on July 4, 2016 after a year and a half battle with cancer. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, July 9, 2016 at St. John’s Catholic Church, 600 Columbus, Benton Harbor with Father Michael Rejent officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Benton Harbor. Friends may visit with the family on Friday, July 8, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. with the Rosary recited at 7:00 PM.  Memorial donations may be made St. John-St. Bernard Parish or to a favorite charity. Those wishing to sign Fritz’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Fritz was born May 22, 1934 in Benton Harbor, MI to Leopold & Ella (Ziemke) Hassle. He was a lifelong resident of Southwest Michigan. On April 28, 1993 he married Sara Damico Thar at St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Joseph, MI. They were first friends, later sweethearts, and then husband and wife. Fritz was a lifelong member of St. John’s Catholic Church where he was an altar boy. He graduated high school at St. John’s Catholic School and went on to earn a degree in carburation from Carter Carburation School in St. Louis, MO. Fritz led a full and interesting life starting his career as a paper boy, and through the years after working alongside his father at Auto Electric in Benton Harbor and then Ashley Ford with determination and a strong work ethic, he became the owner of his automotive business in Coloma where he worked until retirement. Fritz was a member of the F.O.P., the Benton Harbor Elks and the Knights of Columbus. He loved working in his yard and enjoyed fishing, boating and snowmobiling. He was an avid deer hunter and enjoyed his many trips up north. He loved the trips he and his wife took to Lake Erie to fish Walleye, their cruises as well as their trips to the Grand Canyon and Hawaii. Fritz is survived by his loving wife of 23 years Sara; 3 children Leopold “Rob” (Fiancee Gayle Scott) Hassle of Sarasota, FL., Renee Hassle of Corte Madera, CA, Debby (Tom) Wisner of Gaithersburg, MD; 2 step-children Michael Thar of Ft. Pierce, FL. and Natalie Thar of Coloma, MI.; 3 grandchildren Kyle Sanders, Dylan Nofziger and Jessica Thar; great grandchild Luciano “Luc” Summerlin; brother Joseph (Harriet) Hassle of Dowagiac, MI.; brother-in-law Philip (Patricia) Damico of Benton Harbor; sisters-in-law Loretta Krieger of St. Joseph, MI., Barbara O’Rourke of Newcastle, CA. and Rosalie Wright of Kalamazoo, MI.; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Leopold & Ella Hassle and his parents-in-law Frank & Anna Damico.