Obituary of Nellie Jo Hasselbring Tarr

Nellie Jo Hasselbring Tarr, age 92, of Osage Beach, Missouri passed away Sunday, January 23, 2022 at Lake Regional Health System in Osage Beach.

Nellie was born September 9, 1929, in Prairie City, Illinois, the daughter of Carl and Lucy (Cadwalader) Bonnett.

Nellie married Willard “Dutch” Hasselbring on January 25, 1949. He preceded her in death. She later married Gerald Tarr, who also preceded her in death.

Nellie was also preceded in death by her only sibling John Bonnett on January 12, 2022, stepson Larry Tarr, and a grandson Cody Hasselbring.

Nellie was a pioneer for women in the real estate profession, receiving her Real Estate Salesperson license in the early 1960’s, and had a lifelong passion for her work. She began her career at Dunseth Real Estate and Springfield Real Estate before getting her broker’s license and starting her own brokerage, Hasselbring Real Estate. In 1975, she and Dutch relocated to Osage Beach, Missouri, where she continued to sell, develop, and build real estate, including Ozark Meadows Senior Community, where she built her final home at the age of 90.

More than anything else, Nellie loved her family and was very proud of all of them. She cherished time spent with them and her many friends that she made both in Illinois and Missouri. She considered her friends at Christ the King Lutheran Church to be her extended family and loved the time she spent with them in fellowship and Bible study. She had a knack for making friends wherever she went and whatever she was involved in. Very simply, people loved her.

She enjoyed playing bridge and had a special talent for making beautiful greeting cards. Like the pink bunny, Nellie stayed active until she just could not go any more.

Nellie is survived by all four of her children Kurt (Jeannie) of Kingman, Arizona, Kris of Houston, Texas, Joy Beagles (Peter) and Jane Locascio (Phil) of Springfield, Illinois; her step-children Gerry Tarr of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Annette (Bruce) LeBreque of Champaign, Illinois, Debbie Tank of Springfield, Illinois, Rodney Tarr of Bradenton, Florida, and Kathy (Mark) Walker of North Port, Florida; along with eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren; as well as her special friend, Stacey Wright.

Private graveside services will be held at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, with a memorial service to follow on Saturday, February 5, 2022 at 11:00 am at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Lake Ozark, Missouri.

In accordance with her wishes, memorials may be made to the church.