Jon Hassler was a teacher at Brainerd Community College, now Central Lakes College, for 12 years as an English professor. So to honor him, CLC held a festival in his name. The Jon Hassler Festival included multiple speakers and presentations during the two-day event. Hassler passed away in 2008 at the age of 74, and was a nationally acclaimed author of over 15 novels. And colleagues say they couldn’t think of a better way to honor him.

As a former colleague, Evelyn Matthies says that many will remember Hassler as a famous writer. But she also says he should be remembered as a professor who cared about his students, and an even better painter. Hassler was such a fixture in the Brainerd community that in 2008, CLC renamed their library after him, and in May of 2014 it was designated as a National Literary Landmark.