William "Bill" Hasley

William Boyd Hasley, (Bill) was born January 15, 1939 in San Diego, California to John D. and Olive O. Hasley. He spent much of his childhood in National City, California, in the care of his grandparents, Frank and Ella Hasley, while his father was in the US Navy.

It was while living in National City that he met the brunette beauty who lived across the street, Priscilla (Patty) Vandever. They were married in 1957. Their union was blessed with five boys during the first 10 years of their marriage; William (Bill), Ronald (Ron), Daniel (Dan), Michael and Kurt Andrew (Andy). During this busy time of Bill and Patty’s lives, they lived in National City where Bill worked for Rohr Aerospace and also in Big Bear, California where they owned a gas station.

In 1972, at the prompting of their friend, Leonard Mueller, a Nebraska native, they sold most of their belongings, packed their young boys up in their pickup and headed to Nebraska in search of the good life. While it was an adjustment coming from the big city to small-town Nebraska to farm, the move was good one for their family. In 1974, Bill and Patty purchased their dream home, a farm house with barns, pastures, peacefulness and privacy. Daughter, Rebecca, was born shortly thereafter.

Bill raised hogs and farmed during the 1970’s and early 80’s. In the mid 1980’s and 90’s he owned a woodworking business making horse drawn buggies, buggy wheels and other period pieces. He was a true master craftsman whenever he picked up a piece of wood, making many special gifts for family and friends, something he enjoyed up until his death. He also enjoyed many years of hunting and target shooting. In his later years he took great pleasure in watching birds and the deer that frequented the land around his home.

Bill died Wednesday, May 21, 2014 in Fairbury, Nebraska after a short bout with pneumonia and heart troubles. Bill believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior in 1973. He enjoyed watching the Billy Graham crusades when they would be on TV. Because he gave his life to Jesus, we know we will see him again someday.

He is preceded in death by wife of 44 years, Patty; parents, John and Olive Hasley; grandparents, Frank and Ella Hasley; sister, Joni, daughter-in-law Dede Hasley; son-in-law, Jeremy Bailey; grandson, Mason Hasley and granddaughter Opal Wren Hasley.

Bill is survived by his sister, Janie Schlitter and her husband Kirk
of Onawa, Iowa. Sons Bill and his wife Taunya of New Market, VA, Ron and his wife, Vicki, of Beatrice, NE., Dan of Fairbury, NE., Michael and his wife Tracy of Bayse, VA., and Kurt and his wife Nicole of Signal Mountain, TN., and daughter Rebecca and husband, Chad Nelson of Forest, VA. Grandchildren, Billy Hasley and his wife Teri, Briana Hawkins and her husband, Alan, Chelsea Kubes, Tiffany Hasley, Zachary Hasley, Samuel Hasley, Lacey Searing, Colton Hasley, Barret Hasley, Oksana Bailey-Nelson, Naomi Bailey-Nelson, Nakoma Bailey-Nelson and Remington Nelson, and Great Grandchildren Benjamin Hasley, Johnny Hasley and Adalynn Hawkins.

Services will be Saturday, May 24, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at Jansen Bible Church in Jansen, Nebraska with Chuck Bright officiating. A private family burial will take place at a later date. Memorials will go to the family’s choice. Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home in Fairbury is in charge of the arrangements.

I Thessalonians 4:13
“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.”