Alan Hanselman named German Heritage Award winner
The Jasper Deutscher Verein, the Jasper Partnership Commission, and Sister Cities of Jasper will celebrate German American Day on Wednesday, October 15, at KlubHaus61 in Jasper. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. with program and dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Alan Hanselman will be recognized and honored during this year’s celebration as the 27th recipient of the German Heritage Award.
The annual German Heritage Award is presented to an individual or group who has contributed generously of their time, talents or resources to maintaining, improving or building upon the German roots in Dubois County.
Mr. Hanselman is a true representative of an individual who has gone above and beyond in promoting German heritage in Jasper and Dubois County. He has been a member of Sister Cities of Jasper Board of Directors for over 18 years and is also a member of the Jasper Deutscher Verein. He gives generously to the student exchange fundraising efforts each year by hosting a drive-thru dinner fundraiser at the Schnitzelbank on a Sunday (when they are closed) with the students and parents.
Mr. Hanselman is chiefly responsible for getting Pfaffenweiler Weinhaus wine to Dubois County. He has taken charge of this effort since 2018 and continues to import Pfaffenweiler wine each year, and the past two years he has had it served at the Strassenfest. Through Mr. Hanselman’s leadership and team at the KlubHaus61, he has donated countless hours supporting the Sister Cities Wine and Dine and the German/Baden Wine Queens.
Mr. Hanselman and his sister, Gail Hettinger, are co-owners of The Schnitzelbank Restaurant and Catering, KlubHaus61 and the Hampton Inn Jasper. The Schnitzelbank Restaurant is a tourist destination in Jasper, as its German heritage is showcased throughout the establishment. If requested, Alan will lead the Schnitzelbank song for groups, carrying on the tradition as begun by his dad, Larry Hanselman.
He was the first to financially support the Arts and Crafts Exchange as well as the Culinary Exchange that was begun by Sister Cities of Jasper. His latest project, the upgrade of the Glockenspiel shows his continued passion for German Heritage. Mr. Hanselman is always in the background promoting German Heritage.
Mr. Hanselman and his wife, Ellen, are the parents of three sons, DJ, Nathan, and Jeremy Hanselman, and have two grandchildren, Joel and Rebecca Hanselman.
Sister Cities of Jasper and the Jasper Partnership Commission created the award in 1999. The Jasper DeutscherVerein is sponsoring the award. To celebrate the arrival of the first German immigrant group to the United States and the establishment of Germantown, PA, Public Law 100-104 designated October 6, 1983, as “German-American Day”. A proclamation was issued by President Ronald Reagan on October 2, 1987. A day in October shall be proclaimed to be “German-American Day” in honor of the contributions made by German immigrants to the life and culture of the United States.
October 15th is proclaimed German-American Day in Jasper.
There will be a Mayoral Proclamation and a curated auction of handmade and homemade goods and gift items. Proceeds from the auction benefit the 2026 Student Exchange. German American Bank will present a donation to the Student Exchange. The celebration will include a Schnitzelbank catered dinner with traditional German favorites, dessert, tea or lemonade.
Tickets are $40 which includes dinner and a $10 donation to the Student Exchange. There will also be a cash bar.
The dinner and program is open to the public and all are invited to attend and enjoy the festivities. Tickets for the German-American Day dinner and program may be purchased by contacting Mary Leah Siegel at 812-309-3468 or online at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/german-american-day-celebration.
Additional information on German heritage can be found at www.jaspergermanclub.org
or www.sistercitiesofjasperin.org.
