Jurgen Hasselkus

MONTEZUMA, GA - Jurgen Hasselkus, 76, of Montezuma died Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at home.Jurgen or Mr. "J" as he was mostly known by, was born June 29, 1939 in Missen, Germany to Max and Johanna Hasselkus.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m., Thursday, May 26, 2016 in the Fellowship Hall of Montezuma United Methodist Church. A memorial service will follow in the sanctuary at 7 p.m.

He served in the German navy for 12 years before starting his insurance company in Bad Sachsa, Germanyin 1971.Due to health problems, in 1993 he turned over the agency in Nordhausen (East Germany) to his oldest son Michael and the agency in Bad Sachsa to his youngest son Lutz, and moved to Clearwater, Florida where he was able to continue his love for sailing. In June, 1999 he and Judy were married.In September of 1999 they moved to Montezuma where they could easily travel with their RV to 48 states, flying to Alaska and Hawaii.In 2004 Jurgen and Judy started J & J Hasselkus Properties, and in 6 years had totally renovated 16 houses in Montezuma and one in Oglethorpe.It was something he truly loved to do and was something that really helped the area.In April, 2016 they were awarded a Key to the City for their contributions to Montezuma.

Jurgen has two sons living in Germany, Michael and grandsons Marvin and Maxie; Lutz, and his wife Uta and son Marius; sister, Frederike Hirzel, in Switzerland, half-sister, Susan Hasselkus in Germany.He had two step children, Steven Peterson of Clearwater, Fl, and his wife Nicole, and Lisa Baranowski of Port Orange, Fl, and her husband Frank and 4 grandsons in Florida.He was predeceased by a half- brother Peter Lehnert.

Memorial gifts may be made to Montezuma United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 159, Montezuma, Ga31063.

For arrangements call Watson-Mathews Funeral Home in Montezuma at (478) 472-8191, or go on line to www.watsonmathewsfuneralhome.com.