Frank G. "Buster" Haszlauer

Rochester, NY. Frank passed away on Fri. July 19, 2024, age 96. Born to parents Joseph E. & Leona E. Haszlauer (née Bauerschmidt) on June 24, 1928, in Rochester, NY.

Frank was nicknamed “Buster” as a baby by his father due to his roly-poly physique. His nickname would stick for a good portion of his life. As a child, he and his favorite dog Daisy were well known throughout the neighborhood as Buster peddled his bicycle with Daisy gleefully riding in the front basket. He often remarked that Daisy was so well behaved and popular with everyone that knew them that she was the only dog allowed on the Carter St. playground during baseball games. His nickname would later be honored while coaching his son John, nephew Jimmy Cassidy, Jr. and others who formed his “Buster’s Bombers” baseball team.

Frank was very familiar with hard work all his life. Having lived through the Great Depression, he stated that his parents always made sure they had food on the table…even when they were barely scrapping by. He remembered the family Model A Ford being put up on blocks in the garage during WWII when gas was being rationed and they couldn’t afford the registration fee and insurance for the car. He often claimed that he put a lot of miles on that car as a kid pretending to drive it while it was in the garage.

While his older brother, Joey was serving in the military during WWII, Frank was busy helping his father with his sheet metal business. His husky build would come in handy as he was often loaned out to his uncle during slow spells to help shovel deep holes to be used for underground gas tanks for future gas stations. He and his father Joe eventually went to work for Heating Supply Company where he began a career servicing heating & air conditioning equipment, eventually retiring from Ward Heating Supply Company as a purchasing agent in 1994.

Frank loved music and especially playing the piano. He wasn’t good at reading notes but was blessed with the God-given talent of hearing a song once and being able to sit down at the piano to play it. He was also known to play the guitar with his father accompanying him on the fiddle as part of their “Cornhuskers” band. He was also known to occasionally play the harmonica while simultaneously playing the piano. Thus, wherever Frank went, there was always a party following close behind.

He met his beloved Arlene Cassidy while square dancing and became an integral part of her family’s lives. They married on April 19, 1952, while Frank had a 10-day leave between basic training in Hawaii at Schofield Army base and heading to his next assignment in Germany. She was the love of his life and faithfully waited for his return in August 1953. We learned the day before his passing that our parents’ love song was “I Love You Truly” by Bing Crosby…a song we heard him play often while our beautiful mother sang along. Sadly, after 44 years of marriage, she left us all too soon on February 24, 1997.

He was drafted into the US Army and served in Germany from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean War, ultimately earning the rank of Sargeant. He was with a Howitzer tank battalion under the 7th US Army Division, 531st Field Artillery Battalion. They kept a close eye on the Russians along East Germany’s border. It was during his service that he found his lifetime best buddies Art Dahl & Chuck Eklund. Little did they know that their friendship would span 73 years…right up to Frank’s passing…leaving Art & Chuck behind at the tender ages of 94. Frank expressed his love for Art & his wife Rita and Chuck & his wife Jean right up to the end. He was truly an example of Christ-like love and service throughout his life…devoted to living his Roman Catholic faith to the fullest.

Frank would be the first to admit that he wasn’t perfect, but as a son, husband, father, uncle, neighbor & friend, he was always trying to change for the better throughout his life, despite his imperfections. He trusted and relied heavily on his faith in God the Father and his Savior Jesus Christ to strengthen and comfort him right up to the moment he crossed over to meet Them…knowing full well that the Savior’s merciful grace would make up for any shortcomings as long as he kept trying.

We’ve been absolutely amazed at the number of people who have told us that he was a 2nd Dad to them. What a tribute to one we’ve always thought of as an ‘ordinary’ man who apparently made an extraordinary impact on so many during his life. He’ll be greatly missed by his dominoes buddies: Alice Cassidy, Betty & Mike Stoll, as well as his beloved children, grandchildren & great-grandchildren, who lovingly referred to him as “G-Pa”, “Great Oompa” & “Great Grandpa”.

Frank was predeceased by his beloved wife Arlene Haszlauer (née Cassidy), parents Joseph & Leona Haszlauer, brother Joseph J. (Dorothy) Haszlauer, sister Marion (Tom) Foster, and sister-in-law Susan Foster. Survived by his children John (Laura) Haszlauer, Sr., Susan (Greg) Ramstedt, Bryan Haszlauer, and Marion (Greg) Flood. Also survived by his grandchildren John Haszlauer, Jr., Jessica Haszlauer, Leah Haszlauer (Sarah Moore), Elisabeth Haszlauer, Benjamin Haszlauer (Savana Nixon-Jackson), Clayton Ramstedt (Holly Hubner-Ramstedt), Courtney (Justin) Smith, Curtis Flood (Jamie Rockafellow), Rachel (Chuck) Angie and great-grandchildren Zoey Angie, Sterling Smith, Winston Smith, Leelan Flood, Dylan Haszlauer, Logan Haszlauer and sisters-in-law Alice Cassidy and Patricia Touhey, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and beloved friends.

We would like to specifically thank our brother Bryan and our sister Marion and her husband Greg for their never-ending loving care of our father…especially during this past year. Bryan and Dad were especially close right up to the end, as was evident by Dad’s refusal to leave this earth until his best buddy Bryan was by his side. We would also like to thank the fantastic doctors and nursing staff at Unity Hospital, Hildebrandt Hospice Care Center, the North Greece Fire Department’s first responders (with a special shout out to Frank’s great nephew, Tom Clark) and the Veterans Administration for their exceptional care of our father.

Family and friends are invited to call on Friday, July 26th from 4-7 pm at Farrell-Ryan Funeral Home, located at 777 Long Pond Rd., Rochester, NY 14612.

A funeral mass for Frank will be held 10 AM on Sat., July 27, 2024, at St. John’s the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, located at 2400 West Ridge Road, Rochester, NY 14626 with interment to follow in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.