Saturday, March 19, 2016

Art Hasler Family Photo Bio


Thursday, February 18, 2016


Arthur (Art) Davis Hasler

1908-2001

 Photo Biography

 by his eldest son Arthur Frederick (Fritz)


Art: UW Campus Madison 1933

Biographical Synopsis
(From my memories and a biography by Gene Likens)

Arthur Davis Hasler was born January 5, 1908, in Lehi Utah to Walter Thalman and Ada Elizabeth Hasler. Arthur married Hanna Bertha Prusse on September 6, 1932, in Provo Utah. They were married for 37 years until Hanna died in 1969. Art and Hanna had six children: Sylvia, born 1936, Arthur Frederick (Fritz) 1940, Bruce Davis, 1942, Galen Rolf and Mark Rudolf 1945 and Karl Gregory, 1947. Arthur married Hatheway Minton, July 24, 1971 in Madison Wisconsin and was married to her for 30 years until his death in 2001.

Arthur Learned to play the french horn in high school and continued to play throughout his life including 20 years for the University of Wisconsin Symphony and the Madison Civic symphony. Arthur was very active in the Boy Scouts of American and received the Eagle badge in 1924. Arthur served a 2 year mission for the LDS (Mormon) Church to Germany Czechoslovakia, and Austria from 1928 to 1931. He learned the German language very well on his mission and continued to study and love it for the rest of his life. He graduated from BYU in June of 1932 and married Hanna. They left directly for graduate school when Art began his studies in Zoology at the University of Wisconsin in Madison In 1935 he took a job with the US Fish and Wild Life Service on the Chesapeake Bay and worked for two years while living in York Town Virginia where Sylvia was born. 

He returned to the University of Wisconsin in 1937 to finish his PhD in Zoology and begin as an instructor in the department. He was promoted to Assistant Professor in 1941, associate Professor in 1945, and Full Professor in 1948. He served on the Strategic Bombing Survey in Germany for six months in 1945 for the U.S. Army. 52 doctoral students (a full deck) and 43 masters students received their degrees under his supervision  His research study that brought him the most acclaim was the scientific proof that salmon find their way back to the stream of their birth by the use of the sense of smell. He wrote over 200 peer reviewed scientific papers and authored or contributed to seven books. In 1954 and 1955 he went on a year sabbatical as a Fulbright Research Scholar at the University of Munich Germany with famous honey bee researcher and Nobel Prize Winner, Professor von Frisch.

He wrote the proposals and received funding from the National Science Foundation to build the Laboratory for Limnology at the University of Wisconsin in 1963 at which time he became Director of the Lab.  He was elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1969. In scientific circles this is an honor short only of winning the Nobel prize. He also received numerous other awards and honorary degrees from other Universities. He received funding for another research lab, this one on his beloved Trout Lake in Northern Wisconsin. He retired in 1978. In 2006 he received the post humus honor of having his lab renamed the Arthur D Hasler Laboratory of Limnology. He survived four different kinds of cancer including, colon, neck, and lung starting in 1972, but died March 23, 2001 of old age. Hundreds attended his funeral in Madison.




Figure 1: Art, Lehi, 1908

Art's baby picture in the style of the day.


Figure 2: Art, Lehi, 1910

Art age 2, no wonder he always loved hats.



Figure 3: Ada, Art, Lehi, 1913

Art age 5 with baby sister Ada age 3.



Figure 4: Haslers, 1915



Bill, Ada, Art age 7, Tommy, Calvert

His eldest brother, Calvert, died of diabetes in the days before insulin not long after this picture was taken.


Figure 5: Art, Third Grade, Provo, 1915


Art, age 7, Bottom Row Center, Blonde



Figure 6: Art with other Eagle Scouts, 1924


Art age 16, Middle Row right with Glasses



Figure 7: Art, Band Uniform, 1924

Art, age 16 with his dog Champ.


Figure 8: Art, Provo, 1925

Art age 17, a High School Junior


Figure 9: Art, Provo, 1926

Art age 18, a High School Graduate



Figure 10: Art, Provo, 1927

Art age 19, Freshman at BYU Provo

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Art serves in the LDS German Austrian Mission for 30 months 1927-30


Figure 11: Arthur Hasler, Passport, 1927
(UW-Madison Archives)

His son Galen found this in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Archives along with a complete record of his correspondence through the years. From the stamps on the passport we know that Art landed in Liverpool England on July 23 1927, and served his mission in Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, and back in far Eastern Germany which is now in present day Poland. This passport expired May 23, 1929, but it must have been extended. He left his last area of Breslau East Germany on November 6 1929 for an extended tour of European cities according to the travel bureau itinerary that we have.  That would make his a total time served in the field to be 28 months.  From Church records that he left from Utah on July 8th. 1927. He arrived back in NYC on Christmas Eve according to an article in the Provo Newspaper. After a tour of US cities church records show that he arrived back in Provo about January 18, 1930, so the total time of his mission including travel was ~ 30 months and 10 days. Also note that at 21 he gave his height at 5' 10" He must have matured very late to 6'. In his letters from Salzburg and Linz Austria in 1945 he recalls serving in those cities 15 years earlier on his mission.


Figure 12: Art, Saint Lawence Seaway July 1927

Art left Provo July 8th 1927. He would have taken the train, probably to Chicago where he boarded the Great Lakes Steamer, "The Ocean Wave". The picture above shows him sailing on the "Wave" on the Saint Lawence Seaway.



Figure 13: Art's view of Niagara Falls

Dad's pictures of Niagara Falls were pretty washed out so I inserted one from the same view point from the internet.

When he got to New York he boarded a ship  that put him into Liverpool England on July 23, 1927. A train to the ferry then across the English Channel and on a train to Dresden East Germany to meet with the mission president. By July 25, he would be in his first area in Chemnitz an hour southwest of Dresden.

Art served (or had recreational activities) in the following locations with dates, activities and callings.
The words district and conference were used for the same unit during this period. The months refer to the number of months since he arrived on his mission.

Germany
Chemnitz: July 25, 1927 (Arrives in East Germany)
Chemnitz: September 26, 1927 (2 months)
Altenburg/Thuringen: October 9, 1937 (3 months)
Chemnitz: January, 1928 (6 months)
Crimmitschau: June 11, 1928 - Branch President 
(11 months)
Bad Elster: July 4,1928 - Free Day Swim Outing 
(12 months) 
Altenburg: August 1928 (13 months)
Munich: 1928
Austria
Salzburg: 1928
Linz : 1928
Steyr: December 1928 (Art Skiing)
Vienna: January 11, 1929 - President of the Vienna District/Conference (18 months)
Czechoslovakia
Prague: May 1929 (visit, coming back from Leipzig)
Germany (present day Poland)
Breslau: July 24th 1929  transfer and became President of the Breslau District/Conference (24 months)
Breslau: October 1929  Picture with Mission President Valentine (27 months)
Art left Breslau for home on November 6,1929 (28 months)

Note: in 1929 Breslau was part of Germany, but in became part of Poland after WWII in 1945


Note2: We only know that he was in Salzburg and Linz from his letters from Europe in 1945.



Figure 14: Germany/Austria Map with Service Areas

Green squares give the locations of Art's service and recreation areas

Österreich is Austria, München is Munich, Breslau is now Wroclaw Poland, Wien is Vienna

Czechoslovakia (In the center above Linz and Wien is not labeled) 


Figure 15: Art & Colleagues, Chemnitz, Sept 1927

AD Hasler and 25 his German Austrian Mission colleagues in Chemnitz, near Dresden in East Germany on September 26, 1927

Art is in his first area, he has only been out two months at this point and has just started to learn German.





Figure 16: Art, Companion, Dresdner Messe, Sept,1927

Art and his companion overlooking the famous Messe Dresden (Dresden Exhibition) that has been going on all year long for over 100 years and has had over 500,000 attendees in recent years. Note: the AFG(Ball Bearings Sign) This was probably during the Werkstoffwoche (Manufacturing Week)


Figure 17: Art and 12 Colleagues, Dresden, January 1928

Third from right, top row on his German Austrian Mission 

Art's Label for this picture: "Chemnizters in Dresden" 

A picture of the missionaries from Chemnitz Germany visiting the nearby capital city of Dresden, January 1928

First Row: Schuenman, Adams, Bromwell, Russell, Biddulph

Second Row: Haddock, Covey, Taylor, Murray, Watkins, Hasler, Pohlman, Godfrey

"For the proper organizing and development of the scout work in the mission" he was appointed District Scoutmaster in Chemnitz (February 29, 1928) from LDS Church records



Figure 18: President Hasler, Crimmitschau, June 1928


Branch President Hasler & his counselors, Crimmitschau, June 30, 1928

While we don't have specific meta data for this image, it is easy to imagine a young 20-year-old Arthur Hasler, only 11 months out on his mission and only recently becoming fluent in German, as the Branch President for Crimmitshau with his two councilors.

June 11, 1928 "Crimmitschau , Zwickau District, was opened  (for missionary work) with a special meeting of all the Elders laboring in this district being in attendance. Elder Arthur Hasler was leading the work." (Quart. Rep., 1928:113)  By Saturday, June 30, "Arthur Hasler was appointed to be the President of the Crimmitzschau Branch." a little over 1 hour by car West of Dresden.
(Quart. Rep., 1928:112)



Figure 19: Art gets his Eagle at 16, Provo, 1924



Figure 20: Boy Scout Leader, Art, in Germany?, 1928


Arthur often described his mission as working to help young men advance in Boy Scouts.*    "With the issuance of an official charter on May 21, 1913, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints became the first nationally chartered organization to affiliate with the Boys Scouts of America (BSA.) The bridge that would bless the Church and the BSA for the next century was now in place, mutually benefiting both organizations.  The LDS Church had recognized the value of scouting a few years earlier and had developed ways to integrate it into their Young Men's program.  Indeed the church was rolling out the scout program in Germany as well and Arthur was formally involved.  "For the proper organizing and development of the scout work in the mission" he was appointed District Scoutmaster in Chemnitz (February 29, 1928) probably because of his leadership ability and example as an Eagle Scout.




Figure 21: Art & 7 Colleagues, Bad Elster, July 1928

Art called this the "Bathing Review". They were taking a dip in a pond on the 4th of July 1928.

At the Duschzelle (shower stalls) at the pond at Bad Elster 2 hours southwest of Dresden Germany right on the Czechoslovakian border

The sign says that you have to shower your body before you use the pond and no soap allowed in the pond.

Apparently the rules for missionaries in 1928 were different than they are today.



Figure 22: Art, On his Mission, Altenburg, August 1928

Altenburg Germany, 45 min West  of Dresden, August 1928


Figure 23: Art, Elders, Altenburg, August 1928

Art's Title: "In the rain"

Left to Right: Adams, Hasler, Crandall, Covey, Uhlrich, Godfrey

Watkins, Rawsel, Nuhlstein (Seated) Taylor, Bromwell, Radenich, Caeth, Schuenman,

Art served a 30 month (2.5 Years)  mission for the LDS (Mormon) Church in Germany from 1927-29. 

Dad worked diligently studying German and learned it well. He loved German and the German people and defended them even when Germany wasn't popular in the U.S.

I don't know how many times I heard him say this:

"Meine Beziehung zu der deutschen Sprache ist wie mit meiner Frau, ich kenne sie, ich liebe sie, aber ich beherrsche sie nicht."

English translation: "My relationship with the German language is the same as the one I have with my wife. I know her, I love her, but I can't control her"

Professionally dad was somewhat embarrassed by this part of his resumé. When asked about his mission, he would emphasize the work he had done in Germany to promote the Boy Scout program of the LDS Church. However as you can read in this history, you can see that dad served in very important leadership positions on his mission and could have emphasized that part of his service.

Also, some general authorities of the LDS Church were very creationist at the time which did not fit well with his professional scientific theories of evolution and geology, even though dad reported in his oral history that evolution was taught at BYU. Also other issues with the church like the history with polygamy and ongoing (at the time) discrimination against blacks made a career in scientific research and a history with the LDS Church problematic.

In any case his skill with the German language, gained on his mission, was an extremely important factor determining the direction and success of his scientific career.




Figure 24: Art, on his German Mission, 1928


Figure 25: Art, Schornsteinfeger, Germany, 1928

Art with a chimney sweep on his mission in Germany.



Art Companion Investigators, Germany 1928

Art Companion Investigators German Austrian Mission 1928



French Horn Art Purchased Germany,1928

French Horn Art Purchased on Mission in Germany 1929




Art & Companion Sax & French Horn Germany, 1928

Art, Companions, Oxen, Germany, 1928



Honigwagen_Germany_1928

A urine cart that farmer's use to fertilize their fields

Again not a single automobile in the picture.


Kunstgewerbeschule, Strassenbahn, Germany, 1928

Streetcar destination: Art Technology School. I haven't seen a single automobile in any of dad's mission pictures. In this one we see a motorcycle.



Attractive Girl in Native Dress, Germany 1928

Warteraum 2nd Cl (Train Station 2nd Class Waiting Room)



Figure 26: Art, Mission Conference, Dresden, 1928

Art is 2nd row from top, middle right 

AD Hasler and 170 Colleagues from all over the German Austrian Mission. At the annual conference, at the headquarters in Dresden East Germany, 1928


Figure 27: Art and Companion, Munich, 1928
German Austrian Mission.

The note on the picture says: "In the rain".



Figure 28: Salzburg Austria, Circa 1928

Salzburg Austria, where Art was stationed in the Army in 1945. At that time Art recalled his mission days there 15 years earlier. We know this from the letters he wrote home at that time: see below.

27 June 1945 Salzburg

Dear Folks and Sylvia (Provo UT)
...... "Salzburg is pretty badly bombed, but many of the cultural things are undamaged, so reviewing my experiences of 15 years ago (on my mission), I find, I remember very litte because very little here looks familiar to me - - that is proof to me that 15 years is a long time. I wonder if my reaction would be the same to a city I know buch better, like Vienna (where he served as Mormon District President apparently for some time) or Chemnitz" (His first mission service area near Dresden in East Germany starting July 1927)



Figure 29: Art, Austrian Costume, 1928

Art is wearing the full Austrian costume with Lederhosen, the long white sox and the cocked hat. I don't think this was standard LDS missionary dress.

 We thought there was a possibility that this was taken during his Germany stint in 1945 (See ring on 4th finger on left hand), but he looks pretty young here, we found other pictures on his mission where he was wearing a ring on the same finger and finally, we found the negative of this image in with his other mission photos.

This should give you some idea of how much dad was a fanboy of Germany and all things German. This worked well for Hanna who was born in Germany and suffered through discrimination as a new immigrant at age 6-8 through WWI.


Figure 30: Linz Austria am Donau, Circa 1928

Linz on the Danube River is only 30 min North of Steyr where Art was skiing (see next figure) It is also only 45 min South of the Czechoslovakian border.

Linz Austria where Art was stationed in the Army in 1945. At that time, Art recalled his mission days there 15 years earlier: see below:

Linz, Austria 3 July 1945

Dear Folks and Sylvia (Provo UT)

    "Some 15 years ago you saw this address on my mail. In the last two days I have been unable to locate my old friend Rudolf Niedermayer who presented me with such a beautiful book on Austria when I left. ..... notice of his death 3 years ago from blood poisoning --- very suddenly. I visited his wife last night ... found her address, she was pleased and looked well."




Figure 31: Art Skiing Steyr Austria 1928 

2 Hr East of Salzburg German Austrian Mission



Figure 32: Art  & Companion, Vienna Austria,1929

AD Hasler & Companion Vienna Austria 
German Austrian Mission 1929

Leadership assignments continued for Arthur, when on January 11, 1929 he was appointed as the President of the Vienna District (Conference.)   In those early days of the lay church in Germany, it was common to call capable young missionary Elders to top leadership positions while the local members matured.


Figure 33: District President Hasler, Vienna, Jan 1929

Inscription:

"Pres Hasler des Öestereichischen Distrikts"
(President Hasler of the Austrian District)


Figure 34: Art 20 months out, Vienna, Feb 1929

Art. 20 months In The field, Vienna, Feb 1929

Inscription on the back to Hanna:

Your "Art" twenty months in the mission field.
         Many greetings for your 21st birthday, May 22, 1929 from your sweetheart in far off Austria


Figure 35: Art & Companion, Investigators, Vienna, 1929

AD Hasler & Companion, Investigators, Vienna Austria German Austrian Mission, 1929


The Millennial Star newsletter dated 12 May, 1929 announced that on March 30 and 31, the Vienna District held its Spring Conference with Mission President Hyrum W Valentine presiding and under the leadership of Vienna District President Arthur D. Hasler.   (Church History Library #M 205.5 5839GER page 143.)

The Millennial Star newsletter, dated 31 March 1932 (No. 3 Vol. 94) reveals that Elder Hasler's appointment continued and involved some traveling. In an article called Praying the Czechoslovak Mission into existence, Brother Arthur Hasler, was described as President of the Vienna District of the German-Austrian Mission. He had just returned from the Priesthood Centennial at Leipzig, Germany in May 1929 and had also recently visited Prague, Czechoslovakia.  He conveyed to the mission the long prayed for news, that Arthur Gaeth had been appointed by President John A. Widtsoe to start investigations for the immediate opening of the Czechoslovak Mission.

This is the only documentation we have that Art was in Czechoslovakia during his mission.


Figure 36: Art & 23 Colleagues, Breslau, October 1929 

By this time Art was out 27 out of his eventual 30 months & was the president of the Breslau District (Conference).  See him here with the President of the German Austrian Mission, Hyrum W Valentine, visiting from Dresden. See below the names of each missionary in the photo and the number of months they had served in the German Austrian Mission.




Figure 37: Backside of previous picture

The picture is from a photographic studio in Breslau Germany about 3.5 hours Souteast of Dresden. Breslau is now located in Poland. We know that Art arrived in London on July 23, 1927 so if we add 27 months the date of this photograph would be Oct 1929.

Valentine is visiting with his wife Ellen and two daughters Besel and Dee. They had all been in Germany/Austria for 3 years (36 months) at this time. I was having trouble understanding why a young sister missionary would have her hand on his shoulder, (too young to be his wife), but it makes sense now that I know that Dee is his daughter.


The Millennial Star reports on July 24th and July 31, 1929 that Elder Hasler was transferred to the Breslau District Breslau, Provience Schlesian, Germany,, where he was appointed President of the District.

The Millennial Star dated 15 November 1929 reports that he was honorably released in Breslau.

Arthur's older brother W. Thalman Hasler preceeded him in the mission serving under President Fred Tadje.  "Tommy" was appointed to preside over the Vienna Conference (predecessor term for District?) December 31, 1925, and June 30 1926 appointed to the Chemnitz Conference,  so the cities of both Vienna and Chemnitz had two Haslers from the same family presiding over them.

Art served the early part of his mission in the Dresden area before being transferred south to Munich in Bavaria and later Salzburg, Linz and Vienna in Austria. Here he is serving out the last months of his mission back in East Germany east of Dresden.


Figure: 38: Art, Itinerary Home, 06November1929

Art spent two months on an extended tour of Europe and the US on the way home from his mission.

He left Breslau for Budapest on November 6, 1929 and made the following stops:

Hungary: Budepest
Austria: Vienna
Italy: Venice, Florence, Rome, Napels, Pisa, Genoa, Milan, Lugano
Switzerland: Luzern, Basel
Germany: Strassburg, Metz, Diedenhofen
France: Verdun, Reims, Paris
Belgium: Brussels
Holland: Rotterdam, Amsterdam
England: South Hampton


Companion, Budepest, November 9, 1929

`

Canal, Venice, November 13, 1929



Plazza de st Markos, Venice, Nov 13, 1929



Leaning Tower of Pisa, November 23, 1929



Rhine River Boat December 1, 1929

Rhine Side Paddler River Boat December 1, 1929


Paris Carousel de Louvre, Paris Dec 9, 1929



Women & Girls, Holland, Dec 11, 1929


Dutch Boy, Holland, Dec 11, 1929




Figure 39 Art Back From Mission, Provo Newspaper

According to the newspaper article above, he sailed on the U. S. Lines Leviathon for NYC, landing on Christmas Eve.

In the US he toured NYC, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC and Chicago arriving in Provo on January 18th. He was just in time to start school in BYU for the spring semester. Can anyone explain the picture of dad with the card with the number 1403?

He returns to the US with an excellent ability to understand, and speak German and probably a fair degree of writing skill. With the support of his doctor father, he has made a tour of Europe not that much different than the grand tour of the English Lords.



Figure 40: Card, Art to Hanna, Provo, 1930

16April1930 Card from Art to Hanna celebrating the 4th Anniversary of their first date. Art is home three months from his mission and Hanna is still on her's in Wisconsin.

"Am giving a talk at the Kiwanis Club tomorrow on Scouting in Germany"  

We have no photographs and no other direct evidence from dad during his mission about his involvement with the scouting program in Germany.

Arthur often described his mission as working to help young men advance in Boy Scouts.*    "With the issuance of an official charter on May 21, 1913, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints became the first nationally chartered organization to affiliate with the Boys Scouts of America (BSA.) The bridge that would bless the Church and the BSA for the next century was now in place, mutually benefiting both organizations.  The LDS Church had recognized the value of scouting a few years earlier and had developed ways to integrate it into their Young Men's program.  Indeed the church was rolling out the scout program in Germany as well and Arthur was formally involved.  "For the proper organizing and development of the scout work in the mission" he was appointed District Scoutmaster in Chemnitz (February 29, 1928) probably because of his leadership ability and example as an Eagle Scout.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hanna comes home from her mission and Art & Hanna are together again


Figure 41: Art, Hanna, Ada, Mt Baldy, 1931

On a hike with his ?fiancé? and sister near his home in Provo. He had been sweet on this girl since high school

Top of Mt Baldy 1180 ft between Lindon and Pleasant Grove Utah, a foothill of Mt Timpanogos. I hiked this mountain with his great grandson Aaron McDonald in 2009



Figure 42Art and Hanna, Provo, 1932

Art and Hanna with weird car near the time of their marriage, Provo, 1932


Art graduated with a degree in Zoology from BYU in the Spring of 1932.


Figure 43: Art marries Hanna, Provo, 1932.

Formal Wedding picture: Hanna Bertha Prusse and Arthur Davis Hasler

Standing: Mrs Eldora Smith, Hanna's sister Irmgard, Art’s brother Bill Hasler, Bessie Taylor Allen, Hanna's sister Eveline

My brother Mark got the names out of a newspaper report of the wedding. I think I have the non family members labeled correctly.

Art and Hanna were married on September 6th 1932 in the historic Salt Lake Temple. Her sisters Irmgard (left center) and Eveline (right), who were tiny girls on the immigrant boat with her in 1913, were her maid of honor and one of the bridesmaids.


Figure 18: Newlyweds Art and Hanna, Milwaukee, 1933. 

 “Hanna and Arthur were married September 6, 1932, in the Salt Lake Temple and they left immediately for graduate school in Madison, Wisconsin” This is the first picture we have of the newlyweds. It was taken in front of the LDS Church in Milwaukee, in 1933 when they were both 25.


Figure 19: Heber J. Grant, Milwaukee, 1933.

The occasion of Hanna and Art's visit to the LDS (Mormon) chapel in 1933 was the dedication of the chapel by Heber J. Grant, Seventh President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.


Figure 20: Art, Birge, Students, Trout Lake, 1934

Professor Edward A. Birge and graduate students including Art Hasler third from the right. Dad studied Lake Mendota on the shore of the UW campus and the lakes in Northern Wisconsin as part of his graduate studies.


Figure 21: Birge, Juday, Trout Lake, 1934

Edward A. Birge and Chancey Juday at the Trout Lake Research Station. Birge found time to work with his students after retiring from his responsibilities at President of the University of Wisconsin Madison (1918-1925). The Zoology department at the University his housed in Birge Hall. Birge, Juday, and Hasler were the big 3 pioneers of Limnology at the University of Wisconsin.


Figure 22: Putting in a boat, Trout Lake, 1934

Trailing a boat was a little more primitive in those days, but they already had the idea.


Figure 23: Art, Oyster Apparatus, Yorktown, 1935

Art with a an instrument he devised for measuring the amount of water an oyster processes through it's body.

Art took a job in 1935 for two years with the US Fish and Wild Life Service in York Town, Virginia before he finished his dissertation.



Figure 24: Art, Hanna, Shopping, Washington DC, 1935


Figure 25: Hanna and Sylvia, Yorktown, 1936

First child, Sylvia Hasler was born to Hanna and Art on October 4th 1936 in Yorktown Virginia. 



Figure 26: Prusses + Arthur & Sylvia, Provo,1937. 

Spring? 1937: The first grandchild joins the Prusse Clan. Art, Hanna, & baby Sylvia upper right.

Family reunion Provo Utah , scanned from negative in Bill & Elaine's photo album.

Top row: Harold Merkley (Eveline’s husband), Erich, Eveline, Ruth, Dorothy, Zona (Alfred’s wife), Alfred, Margaret, Irmgard, Arthur Hasler (Hanna’s husband) Hanna, baby Sylvia Hasler (daughter of Arthur and Hanna).

 Middle row: William (Bill) , Granny, Grosspapa, and Walter (Pete)

Sitting: Ralph, and Norma.

In this picture, the Haslers had just made the long trek west to Utah from Yorktown Virginia to attend a Prusse Family reunion. They probably came by car, taking over a week on the road with a stop in Madison, in the days before freeways. They brought their first child, Sylvia, born October 4th 1936, and the first grandchild of Wilhelm & Johanne to meet them and Sylvia’s 13 aunts and uncles. 


Figure 27: Art, Rangers, Crater Lake NP, 1937

Art and other Rangers at Crater Lake National Park in Oregon.

It's all making sense now. Dad keeps heading west to take a summer job on the west coast as a Ranger and mom stays behind with her folks in Utah with one-year-old Sylvia.

In the Fall he starts his job as an Instructor at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and finishes his PhD.



Figure 28:  Art, Madison Civic Symphony, 1938

Art, back row right with the french horn to the right of the right base player.

When he is not working for the US Government in Virginia, the National Park Service in Oregon, working on his PhD, teaching students, doing his research, raising a family, or driving his family to Utah, Art begins his 30 year career playing the french horn with the Madison Civic Symphony and the University of Wisconsin Symphony.


Figure 29: Hanna and Sylvia, Madison, 1941.

Because of the miscarriage of their second child, Sylvia was an only child until Fritz was born in 1940 when she was four.


Figure 30: Hanna presenting Fritz, Door County, 1941.

From left: Sylvia, Fritz, Hanna, a friend with child, Olive Thompson holding Dennis in Door County Wisconsin.

Their first son, Arthur Frederick, nicknamed Fritz, was born on August 21st 1940. 

Olive Thomson just died at age 100 as this is written.


Figure 31: Art, Hanna, Fritz, and Sylvia, Lake Geneva, 1942. 

The fish professor has to teach the kids how to swim: Lake Geneva Wisconsin.

The Haslers returned to Madison in 1937 where Arthur had taken a job as an instructor in the Zoology Department at the University of Wisconsin. 


Figure 32 Haslers, Elaine, Madison,1943


Art, Driving boat with Fritz, Hanna, Bruce, Elaine Prusse, Sylvia, Picnic Point Beach, Madison, Wisconsin.



Figure 33: Haslers, Madison, 1943

Winter 1943: Art, Fritz, Hanna, Sylvia on Picnic Point, Madison.



Figure 34: The young Hasler family, Madison, 1944.

Left to right: Fritz, Art, Sylvia, Hanna, Bruce.

The Haslers after the birth of second son Bruce Davis on June 3rd 1942.






Figure 34.5: Sylvia, Art, Fritz, Madison, 1945

Daddy Goes to War

 

Figure 35: Art, Army Uniform, Madison, 1945


In 1945, just after the Nazis surrendered, Art volunteered for the Strategic Bombing Survey with the US Army in Germany. Using his German language skills he interviewed German civilians to determine the effectiveness of the indiscriminate bombing and complete destruction of German cities including civilian populations by firebombing during the war. Today we would call this a crime against humanity.


The Survey determined that the the bombing of civilian populations did not break their will, and may even have strengthened their bond with the Nazi government.


We went on firebombing Japanese cities including Tokyo.

The Nazis had started bombing civilians in Guernica (subject of Picasso's famous painting) during the Spanish civil war and continued on with aircraft and missile bombing of civilians in London during the battle of Britain. Therefore it is not too surprising that the allies responded with bombing of civilian populations in Germany. Astonishingly, no one repeated the horrible chemical warfare from WWI. 



Figure 35.5 Kids in Rubble, Germany, 1945

This picture best captures the spirit of dad's stories of arriving in Germany just after WWII had ended.  I am still looking for the pictures dad took himself. The two little girls are carrying a Christmas tree.

Dad arrived in Germany just after many German cities has been totally destroyed by allied bombing. Dad shared his K-rations and chocolate with the children. He remembered walking down a street with virtually all buildings destroyed on either side. Then out of a basement under the rubble, a little girl emerged, perfectly dressed ready to go to church.


Figure 36: Hasler family, Madison, 1946. 

This pictue is taken in the dining room with kitchen in the background in the house at 205 Lathrop Street.

Back row: Fritz, Hanna holding Mark, Arthur holding Galen

Front row: Bruce, Sylvia




Figure 36.5: Twins Mark & Galen, Madison, 1945

The birth of Galen Rolf and Mark Rudolf January 24th 1945 caused quite a stir as twins were quite rare in the days before in vitro fertilization



 Figure 37: Hasler family, Provo, August 1947.

Adults: Arthur holding twins Galen & Mark, Hanna holding baby Karl

From left: Bruce, Fritz, and Sylvia.
Baby Karl Gregory, was born July 19th 1947 so the family must have made a grueling three day trek by car in the days before freeways from Wisconsin to Utah with a baby barely one-month old


 Figure 38: Haslers, Madison, 1949.

“The stylishly dressed Hasler family! ” Taken in front of the 205 Lathrop Street house in Madison with their 1948 Hudson Commodore car

Top row: Hanna, Arthur, Sylvia, and Fritz sitting on the car. 

Bottom row: Karl, Galen, Bruce, and Mark.


This picture is quite hilarious because it demonstrates Hanna’s frugality in clothing the children, all wearing hand-me-downs. See Bruce’s way too short jacket for the extreme example. On a new promotion to a University Full Professor’s salary they had a nicely furnished, fancy house, in a good neighborhood, right next to the University, a new car, voice lessons for mom, piano lessons for Sylvia and Fritz and trips out west to Utah every year. However, they had renters to help pay the mortgage and probably had never seen the inside of a restaurant at this point. The car is a 1948 Hudson Commodore that made several trips west to Utah with all eight Haslers aboard before being replaced by a 1954 Nash Ambassador for the trip to Europe.


Figure 39: Haslers, Madison, 1953

The “von Hasler Famiy Singers” in front the grand piano at 205 Lathrop Street.

Back row: Galen (9), Bruce (11), Karl (7), Hanna, Fritz (13), Arthur with French Horn. 

At the piano: Sylvia (17), and Mark (9). 

From Sylvia’s bio: “I remember the morning after Daddy had taken Mother to hear the von Trapp family singers (of Sound of Music fame). Mother was ecstatic. I can still see her joyfully telling me in the kitchen the next morning about her delightful evening at the concert. Here was a musical family singing the songs of her heritage. Rehearsals began at once. We sang and performed together a great deal as a family. We endeavored to "out-Trapp" the von Trapps for years. We all sang parts, and I accompanied the German Christmas carols on the piano……. Daddy played French horn in the Madison Civic Orchestra and University Opera Productions for twenty-five years. We attended his concerts and the annual Messiah productions”



Figure 40: Art, Hanna, Parents, Provo, 1954

Spring 1954: Walter T (his dad), Hanna, Ada (his mom). Art. The Haslers usually made the long trek to Utah in the 
Fall, but this year they joined a big Prusse and Hasler reunion in the spring because they were leaving for Germany in the Fall



Figure 41: Haslers, New York City, August 1954

Hasler family in front of the NYC Empire State Building, visiting Art’s sister Ada Miller and family, en route to Germany on the Ocean Liner, SS Flandria, from New York to Land’s End England and on to Munich in the 1954 Nash Ambassador automobile.

Top row: Bruce, Hanna, Sylvia, Arthur, and Fritz. 

Front row: Mark, Karl, Galen

"In 1954, Arthur took a year long sabbatical to the University of Munich in Germany with the whole family of eight in tow. Hanna spoke fluent German from her childhood in Germany and with her family in America. Arthur had learned excellent German on his mission in Dresden East Germany. Now it was time for all the children to be enrolled in German schools and learn German as well. Before long the whole family was speaking fluent German and singing German folk and Christmas songs, informally: the von Hasler Family Singers."


Figure 42: Haslers, Munich, January 1955.

Haslers catching snow flakes in a snowstorm on the side of their big rental house at Kunigundenstrasse 55 in Munich Germany.

From left to right: Fritz, Sylvia, Karl, Mark, Hanna, Galen, and Bruce. 

The Haslers rented this big house in the Schwabing section of Munich. From there the kids commuted to school and University by streetcar. Note the boys are all wearing German military type hats.

Our German Christmas was the delight of our lives. Mother was in her element. We had a tree with real candles on it that year in Munich, and a real St. Nicholas came to our home and recounted our failings, admonishing us to be better before December 25. Mother discovered Advent's wreaths. We burned dozens of red candles, attended Christmas oratorios, and enjoyed the beautiful many-colored Christmas decorations and marzipan (figures made of almond paste). The Christmases of Mama's childhood, as portrayed valiantly by her immigrant parents, were resurrected by a delighted Hanna and truly celebrated at Kunigundenstrasse 55”


Figure 43: Haslers, Munich, August 1955.

Haslers “Departure from Munich” in the back yard of the Kunigundenstrasse 55, house in Munich Germany just before they returned to the States in August of 1955 to 205 the Lathrop Street in Madison. This card was made by Fritz in printing class at West High School for the 1955 Christmas following the Hasler year in Munich. Note: family members are wearing pretzels around the neck.

Sylvia and Gilbert Lionel Thatcher were married in the Salt Lake Temple Sept 4, 1956. Art and Hanna’s first child and only daughter was now married. they only had five boys to go.



Figure 44: Wedding Reception for Sylvia and Gilbert, Madison, 1956

Kappa Sorority House, Madison, Sept 20, 1956


Figure 45: Haslers, Madison 1957

The boys all showing off their Schwinn Bikes with generator lights that Art got on a special deal from Mr. Schwinn himself.

Photo taken in front of the famous 205 Lathrop Street house.

From the left: Hanna, Arthur, Karl, Mark, Galen, Bruce, Fritz
Note: The family German Shorthaired Pointer, Sherzel hiding Hanna.




Figure 46: Bruce, Fritz, Galen, Mark, Karl, Madison, 1960

Art's sons are growing up: Gilbert shot this one of the Hasler boys in the backyard from the porch of our 205 Lathrop house with his Leica and 90 mm portrait lens.



Figure 47: Haslers, Madison 1961.

Late Fall 1961: Karl, Hanna, Art, Fritz, Bruce, Galen, Mark

I had just returned from my college Junior Year in Munich with goodies for me and the family. I am holding my Kneisl Riesen Slalom (Giant Slalom) skis, Karl is holding the new Holzner GS skis I had brought for him, Mark & Galen. Behind us was the new red VW bug with skis on the rack that I had bought for the family in Germany. The Marker safety bindings on my Kneisls weren't so safe as I totally broke my lower left leg while skiing in Switzerland.



Figure 48:  Arthur D Hasler Laboratory for Limnology, Madison, 1962

On Lake Mendota just down the shoreline from the Memorial Student Union on the University of Wisconsin Campus

Art wrote the proposals and received funding from the National Science Foundation to build the Laboratory for Limnology at the University of Wisconsin in 1963 at which time he became Director of the Lab. He moved lab from a grungy little building at the end of Park Street. The lab was renamed the Arthur D Hasler Laboratory for Limnology in 2006.


Figure 49: Haslers, Madison, 1963

Art, Karl, Fritz, Bruce, Hanna, Galen, Mark 

Art, Hanna and the boys: This was the year I graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a B.S. degree in Applied Math and Engineering Physics.


Figure 50: Mary, Fritz, June 19, 1965

Now Art's eldest son is married.


Figure 51: Fritz & Mary’s Wedding, Madison, 1965.

Hanna at Fritz & Mary’s Wedding, June 19 1965, Mormon Chapel, Madison.

Back row: Galen, Mark, Bruce, and Karl
Front row: Arthur, Hanna, Fritz, Mary, and Sylvia

Fritz’s four brothers were the best men and his sister Sylvia was a bridesmaid along with Mary’s three sisters. Hanna was driven to see her children married, but only lived to see Sylvia, Fritz, and Bruce marry. She got to know four grand children. Sylvia and Gilbert’s Laurel, Blaine and Sabina were 7, 5, and 3 (see Figure 41) while Fritz and Mary’s Anneliese was 18 months old when she died.  The newlyweds went to Glacier National Park and Canada on their honeymoon. Hanna and Art met them at the Salt Lake City temple where they were sealed (official Mormon marriage) by one of the 12 apostles, Harold B. Lee, who became President of the Church in 1972.
In the next image we see the assembled group and dinner table for the blessing of Anneliese (born December 4th 1967), the first child of Fritz and Mary Huebner Hasler. Shown is the wonderful dining room with bay window of the 205 Lathrop Street house. The great round dinner table with large Lazy Susan in the middle. A large turkey is carved in the foreground with mashed potatoes; on the Lazy Susan are homemade dinner rolls and the gravy for the mashed potatoes. A typical dinner, and number of guests, that Hanna served for Art innumerable times during her life.


Figure 52: Anneliese’s blessing dinner, Madison, 1968

Art, Third from top left at  a grand family dinner for the blessing of her fourth grandchild, Anneliese, the first child of Fritz and Mary.

Back row: Sylvia, Galen, Arthur, Fred Huebner, Fritz, Ellen, Anne, Gilbert, Grandpa Huebner, Paul Christenson, Hanna

Seated: Larue Christenson, Mary, Laurel Thatcher, Laura Huebner, Sabina and Blaine Thatcher, Grandma Bast, Grandma Huebner, Alice Huebner


Figure 53: Anneliese’s Blessing, Madison, 1968

Art (left), at Fritz & Mary’s Anneliese Blessing, Mormon chapel Madison

Front from left: Arthur, Laurel, Hanna, Grandma & Grandpa Huebner, Ellen, Anne, & Laura Huebner. 

Second row: Grandma Bast, Alice & Fred Huebner, Mary & Fritz holding Anneliese


Figure 54: Art, Fritz, Fred, Anneliese, Madison 1968

January 1968: Arthur Hasler, & Frederick Huebner grand parents of Anneliese Hasler held by father Fritz Hasler at her blessing.

Hanna, his wife and partner for 37 years and his sweetheart for 7 years before that dies of cancer a year and a half later June 2, 1969.



Figure 55: Hatheway, Art, receiving music

Arthur married Hatheway Minton, July 24, 1971 in Madison Wisconsin and was married to her for 30 years until his death in 2001.

Hatheway was an immeasurable aid to Art during his later career and during his declining years.

He was married to his first wife Hanna for 37 years


Figure 55.5: Art, Hatheway, Madison, 1980

Art married Hatheway Minton in 1971.


Figure 55.7: Anneliese's Wedding, Bountiful, 1990

Art and Hatheway Minton at the the marriage of Fritz and Mary's daughter Anneliese to Bradly McDonald in Bountiful Utah.



Figure 56: Four Generations, Trout Lake, 1998:

15July1998: Art, his son, Fritz, his grand daughter, Anneliese, and great grand daughters, Megan and Rachel McDonald

My switch from film to digital cameras began a year earlier in 1997, but the resolution of my digital  camera is still only 1280 x 980 pixels



Figure 57: Arthur, Sylvia, Limnology Lab, Madison, 1998

16Sept1968: Arthur with daughter eldest child Sylvia in front of the Limnology Lab. The resolution of my digital camera is up to 1568 x 1024


Figure 58: Arthur, Hatheway, Madison, 1998



Figure 59: Arthur, , Limnology Garden, Madison, 1998

September1998: The Limnology Garden honoring Arthur Davis Hasler



Figure 60: Arthur, Hatheway, Reunion, Three Lakes, 1999.

17July1999: Hasler reunion at Fritz & Mary's lake house on Laurel Lake inThree Lakes Wisconsin
.

Figure 61: Art, Fritz, Matt, Trout Lake, 2000

20July2000: Three generations of Eagles

Arthur Davis Hasler, Arthur Frederick  (Fritz) Hasler, Matthew Frederick Hasler. This may be the first time Art had worn his Eagle Bandoleer in 77 years (see 1924 photo when he became an Eagle at 16). Art would be dead in seven months.
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As recalled in the biographical synopsis at the beginning of this blog post:

 Art survived four kinds of cancer, two surgeries, and chemo therapy. He wore a colostomy bag for the last 20? years of his life which he handled with amazing competence and good cheer.

However, the last 10? years, particularly the last two years of his life were very sad. For the last 10? years of his life he suffered from macular degeneration of his retinas. He was essentially totally blind except for his peripheral vision which was only a blur. He carried monocular telescope around his neck, but I looked through it once and I'm not sure it helped him as he didn't even have the focus set properly. The last two years he suffered from dementia which got progressively worse.  Hatheway was a true saint, to guide and help him through his last years.

I won't do this justice, but near the end of his life, I remember him saying something like this to Hatheway, his wife of 30 years: "I know you, I know your name, it's right on the tip of my tongue, help me with it, please help me"

Even with dementia at this level dad would repeat over and over his favorite saying about the German language (see Figure 11 1928) and his favorite German Poem:
Frühling läßt sein blaues Band
Wieder flattern durch die Lüfte;
Süße, wohlbekannte Düfte
Streifen ahnungsvoll das Land.
Veilchen träumen schon,
Wollen balde kommen.
– Horch, von fern ein leiser Harfenton!
Frühling, ja du bist's!
Dich hab ich vernommen!
Eduard Mörike (1804 – 1875)
Copy the poem into Google Translate for a rough translation into English


Figure 61.5: Eagle Sashes, Trout Lake, 2000.

Three generations of Eagle Sashes. Art: 1924, Fritz 1961, Matt 2000

See the Figure from 1924 where dad is wearing the Eagle pin shown above on his left pocket.


Figure 62: Art's Funeral, Madison, 2001

20March2001: Hatheway, Karl, John Magnuson, LDS Chapel, Madison

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Art's Legacy


Figure 63: Lab Naming, Madison. 2006

08Mary2006: Fritz, Hathaway, Sylvia, Karl, Mark, Fritz

Arthur's widow, his second wife, Hatheway, and five of his six children along with 100s attend the naming ceremony for the A. D Hasler Laboratory of Limnology which he built.

His professional legacy is the ongoing labs in Madison and Trout Lake and the nearly 95 PhD and Master students that received their degrees under his supervision. His 200 pier reviewed papers and seven books have inspired countless others to continue his work.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

All of Art's six children are alive and in relatively good health as this is written 15 years after his death in 2016 .

At this point, he has 18 grandchildren, 58 great grandchildren, and 3 great great grandchildren.

See pictures below.


Figure 64: Sylvia, Fritz, Mark, Galen, Bruce, Karl, 3 Lakes, 2012

17June2012: Art’s six children


Figure 65: Thatcher 50th Anniversary, Trout Lake, 2006

14August2006: William Abby Gilbert Laurel Madeline Jed Bradley Cameron Daniel Stephen Nathen Amy Blaine Callie Barbera Elizabeth Cole Sylvia Kathryn Elliot Hattie Sabina Arthur Karl Lillian Jameson 


Figure 66: Sylvia & Gilbert, 6 Kids, 3 Spouses, Salt Lake City, 2010

Gilbert's 80th Birthday Dinner at Blaine's Restaurant.

Sylvia and Gilbert have six children, 21 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren as of February 2016. Sylvia and Gilbert live in Colorado Springs CO near their daughter Barbara.



Figure 67: Fritz & Mary, 4 Kids, 4 Spouses, 10 Grandkids, Lindon 2015

Fritz & Mary have four children and 11 grandchildren with one on the way as of February 2016.  

Mary and Fritz live Lindon UT in the winter with son Matt and daughter-in-law Amy & family. In the summer they are in Three Lakes WI often with many kids, grandkids and friends enjoying water sports and boating on the lake. In the winter they are near Anneliese's family in Pleasant Grove as well as Marta's family in Park City, but not so near Marta's current (temporary) residence in Sydney Australia.


Figure 68:  Mary, Fritz, 50th Anniversary, Three Lakes 2015

Fritz & Mary celebrate their 50 wedding Anniversary with the McDonalds, DeBellises, Matt Haslers and 50 good friends thanks to Marta, in Three Lakes Wisconsin. Katherine and newborn Ailsa were not ready to travel.


Figure 69: Galen & Grace, 3 Kids, 3 Spouses, 9 Grandkids, Minneapolis, 2015


Galen & Grace have three children, and 9 grandchildren as of February 2016
They moved back to Madison some years ago and are the main care givers for Karl who is also in Madison.


Figure 70: Mark & Renee, 4 Kids, 3 Spouses, 16 Grandkids, San Diego 2015

Mark & Renee have four children and 16 grandchildren as of February 2016 

Mark and Renee are currently serving a senior mission at the Family History Center in Salt Lake City. They recently followed the Tanya Hunters from Madison to San Diego where they will live after their mission.

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