Jon Stephen Hassell

Jon Stephen Hassell

October 19, 1969 – December 6, 2025

Life is but a stopping place, A pause in what’s to be.

A resting place along the road To sweet Eternity.

We all have diferent journeys, Diferent paths along the way.

We all are meant to learn some things, But never meant to stay.

Our destination is a place greater, Than any that we know,

For some the journeys quick, But for others the journeys slow.

And when the journey finally ends We’ll claim the Great Reward,

And find an everlasting place Together with our Lord.

With a smile on his face and an angel at his side, Jon Stephen Hassell walked through the Pearly Gates of heaven on Saturday morning, December 6th, 2025. Steve leaves behind family and friends that loved him and the legacy of a life well lived.

He was born on Sunday, October 19, 1969. Steve was an answered prayer for his parents, Jon and Shirley. He was cherished greatly and spoiled beyond measure.

Steve was a fun-loving child. He was mischievous like most boys and kept his parents on their toes. If Steve ever went missing Jon and Shirley normally could find him on the nearest rooftop. He was an excellent marksman, as he took great pleasure in using his younger sister Janet for target practice with his BB Gun. He took great joy in teasing her throughout their childhood. Life was never dull in the Hassell home.

In later years Steve found he had a natural ability in athletics. He was competitive by nature, and sports became his passion. He excelled in both Baseball and Football. Steve

graduated Hendersonville High school in 1987 with a full football scholarship to Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois. His major was Business, but on the field is where he excelled. In 1990 Steve was 2nd team NAIA All-American. He still ranks #2 All-Time leading Rusher in Olivet history with 3,958 total career yards and 21 touchdowns. Steve was inducted into the ONU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009. Last year, Steves 1990 Tigers Football team was honored at Olivet for leading the NAIA in rushing yards for that year.

Whether on or of the field, Steve strived to be the best he could be. He worked in Sales and Commercial Packaging. Steve took great pride in his work and was always pushing to be better than the day before. His dad Jon said Steve could sell an icebox to an Eskimo.

Steve was everyone’s friend, he loved unconditionally and with a true heart. He spent a lot of time with his niece Paige teaching her to play softball and taking her to games. He would take Payton and load her up on ice cream and take her home to Janet all sugared up. Steve was always the biggest kid in the room and would do whatever it took to make everyone laugh. He took great pride in teaching his nieces and nephews the Beans Beans song.

Small things like that are what made him the best Uncle Stevie and Uncle Buck (after one of his favorite movies) they could ever have.

Steve was a man with a quick wit and a love for fun. He spent many good times watching the game he loved, and enjoying the life he had built for himself. Steve was a blessed man. He was blessed with two loving parents that devoted themselves to their children each and every day, a sister who always had his back, and nieces and nephews that thought he was the best.

Steve’s life verse was Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.

Steve is survived by parents, Jon and Shirley Hassell, sister Janet Jones and husband Michael, nieces Paige Gregory and husband Scott Thompson, Payton Gregory and fiance’ Blake Campos, nephews, John Gregory III, Carson Gregory, Haydon Gregory and Gage Jones, great nephew Aiden White, great nieces, Josie White, Atlas Thompson and Presley Gregory.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Monday, December 15, 2025 at 2:00 P.M. at Grace Church of the Nazarene, 2620 Pennington Bend Road, Nashville, TN 37214,  with Pastor Jonathan Trees officiating. Visitation will also be held on Monday, December 15, 2025 from 12:00 Noon until time of service at the Grace Church of the Nazarene.

Arrangements entrusted to the Anderson Funeral Home, 202 E. Main Street, Gallatin.