Free article

The Graphic has made this article available to everyone. To read everything we publish, subscribe today for as little as $52 per year.

Jon Schasker Obituary

    Jon Lafolet Schasker,  79, of Minneapolis, died peacefully on Friday, March 2, 2018 at N.C. Little Hospice in Edina, of complications of Parkinson’s.
    Jon was born Sept. 9, 1938, to Forrest and Lois (Haugen) Schasker, in Vandalia, Ill.  He graduated in 1956 from Lincoln High School in Lake City, where he was a stand-out student, golfer (Region One Tournament winner) and trumpeter. His band director, Paul Storti, played trumpet professionally, including with Lawrence Welk, so Jon had superb instruction.        
    Jon and siblings, Phil and Jill, spent several summers working on the family farm north of Reeder, N.D., where their cherished Aunt Anna Mae (1919-2013), became their summer mother.
    In 1961, Jon graduated as an aeronautical engineer from the University of Minnesota.  At the U of M, Jon ushered at Northrup Auditorium for many memorable events, and he attended every Metropolitan Opera performance there.  He was a trumpeter in the marching band, member of Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity, Alpha Chapter, and was a three-time intramural table tennis champion.  One summer, during college, Jon was the work train cook for railroad workers who ate three gigantic meals a day.  Jon also played in the Ken Burk Dance Band during his college years.
     Jon was a devoted Rosicrucian, and a member of the Theosophical Society; he was true to Theosophy’s mission:
     “Open-minded inquiry into world religions, philosophy, science and the arts in order to understand the wisdom of the ages, respect the unity of all life, and help people explore spiritual self–transformation.”
    With “inquiry into world religions,” for about 15 years, Jon attended all houses of worship in Minneapolis. With “inquiry into the arts,” Jon was known to attend up to four performances of opera, music, dance, theater, etc., a week, and he was an ardent Arthur Murray Ballroom Dance student. Embodying the mission, Jon read thousands of books.
    The Theosophical World View is: “Devotion to truth; love for all living beings, and commitment to a life of active altruism.” “Love for all living beings” caused Jon’s departure from Boeing in Seattle, his first engineering job after college, working on the Minuteman Missile, because he realized missiles kill people. This love also caused one of few domestic conflicts, when a mouse moved into the house. Jon wanted to adopt it, while Debby wanted it evicted.
    Jon was a “gentle giant,” “servant” to others, in “active altruism,” as he mowed, shoveled for others, made countless hospital and nursing home visits, drove seniors (The “Culture Vultures”) to hundreds of concerts, plays, lectures, etc.
    After Boeing, Jon studied and taught psychology at the college level. His two favorite jobs were: driving Red and White cab (he loved to drive – fast) and working at, and retiring from, AT&T. At AT&T, Jon was known for loud sneezes, heard by hundreds, ‘round the world; when he sneezed in the Teleconference Center, many operators were working with calls all over the globe, and people on conference calls would ask what the loud interruption was. Many days, Jon ran to work. He welcomed being called in on short notice, and thanks to his trusty overshoes, he always reported, walking in heavy storms and blizzards.
    Jon sang in choirs. He sang and danced with The Accents (popular and show tunes with costumes), and won tournaments in chess and poker. His memberships included: U of M Alumni Band, President’s Club and Alumni Association; AT&T Town Talkers and Pioneers; MENSA, and his beloved Sabes JCC gym.
    He is survived by Deborah Carlson and Zack, at home; brother, Philip (Shirley) of Cupertino, Calif.; sister, L. Jill Ford of Portland, Ore.; nephews, Scott and Troy and families of California; niece, Tanya Durham and family of Colorado; niece, Lara Bickel and family of Oregon; aunt, Marilyn Schasker of Illinois; 11 Schasker cousins in Illinois, California, Wisconsin, Washington and Georgia; five Honeyman cousins in North Dakota and Arizona; many beloved friends and AT&T colleagues. Lois and Forrest Schasker, Bert and Sally Carlson, Bob Ford, many aunts and uncles preceded Jon in death.
    On March 8, Jon was laid to rest at Maple Lawn Cemetery, after a service at Boldt Funeral Home in Faribault.
    Jon’s memorial service will be on his 80th birthday, Sept. 9, 3 p.m., at Grace University Lutheran Church, 324 Harvard St. SE in Minneapolis, with a reception immediately following (three blocks away) at McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Oak St. SE, U of M Campus in Minneapolis.
    Jon Schasker’s memorial choices: American Refugee Committee, The Carter Center (President Jimmy and Rosalynn), Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Minnesota Orchestra, Theatre in the Round, University of Minnesota Foundation (Science and Engineering or Marching Band).
    Arrangements handled by Boldt Funeral Home of Faribault, boldtfuneralhome.com; 507-334-4481.

The Lake City Graphic

graphic@lakecitygraphic.com
Ph: 651-345-3316 (M-Tu 8am-4pm, W-Th-F 8am-3pm)
Fax: 651-345-4200
P.O. Box 469
111 South 8th Street
Lake City, MN 55041

ISSN 2994-1059 (print)  ISSN 2994-1067 (online)