Joseph Hackman, 95
Joseph Hackman, age 95 of Fort Atkinson, died on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, at Wellington Place in Decorah.
Mass of Christian Burial was held at 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, at St. John’s Catholic Church, Fort Atkinson, with the Rev. Dan Knipper presiding.
Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation was from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service on Tuesday at the church.
Memorials may be sent in memory of Joseph to: Agnes Hackman, 2575 River Rd, Apt 114, Decorah, IA 52101
Joseph Chris Hackman was born on Aug. 15, 1925 on the family farm halfway between Fort Atkinson and St. Lucas to Joseph and Theresa (Schmitt) Hackman.
He attended St. Luke’s Catholic School in St. Lucas through the eighth grade. He then started farming with his father.
On Tuesday, Oct. 28, 1952, he married his “Sweetie” Agnes Elsbernd at St. Marys’ Catholic Church in Festina. To this union they were blessed with eight children. Joe was a dedicated farmer milking cows, raising pigs and chickens, and working the land. He took great pride maintaining the second-generation farm.
He received the Winneshiek County Pioneer Dairy Award, was on the parish council, and served on the Farm Bureau Board.
In 1988, Joe and Agnes built a new home in Fort Atkinson, which didn’t keep him away from the farm. He kept busy driving tractors, tending the lawn, and keeping up with the farm repairs.
In his spare time, he enjoyed polka dancing, card games, sudoku, bean bags, and traveling. The highlight of his travels was a trip to Alaska.
Joe is survived by his wife of 68 years, Agnes; his children, Doris (Sam) Sabelka, Calmar, Joyce (Steve) Goedert, North Liberty, Roger Hackman, Agency, Sharon (John) Thuente, Fort Atkinson, Marvin (Mary Ann) Hackman, New Hampton, Margie (Mel) Elsbernd, Ossian, Dale (Bonnie) Hackman, Fort Atkinson, and Ivan (Brenda) Hackman, Decorah; his grandchildren, Randy (Cathy) Sabelka, Stacy (Jeremy) Merrill, Jodi (Mike) Nelson, Melissa (friend Ryan Thompson) Johnson, Eric (Amy) Thuente, Nicole (Lloyd) Kuennen, Marcus (Sarah) Thuente, Ryan (Melinda) Hackman, Corey (Tara) Hackman, Rebecca (Nathan) Moonen, David (Lindsey) Moellers, Megan (Fiancé Jacob West) Elsbernd, Garrett (Friend Hanna Bonelli) Hackman, Jacob (Megan) Hackman, Justin (Fiancée Kelsey Hageman), Brody Hackman, Katelyn Hackman, Michala Hackman and Wyatt Hackman; his step-grandchildren, Heather (Brent) Talbot, Scott Elsbernd, and Katie (Shaun) Reed; 28 great-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren; his sister, Dorothy Bohach, Decorah; his sisters-in-law, Lorraine Hackman, New Hampton, Evelyn Elsbernd, Decorah, Anna Mae Kuhn, Calmar, Sr. Helen Elsbernd, FSPA, LaCrosse, Wisconsin; Clare Faas, West Salem, Wisconsin, and Sr. Rosie Elsbernd, FSPA LaCrosse, Wisconsin; his brothers-in-law, Denis (Jackie) Elsbernd, Olathe, Kansas, Ray (Donna) Elsbernd, Calmar, and Larry Schissel, Olathe, Kansas; amd many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson. Jordan Sabelka; father and mother-in-law, Alois and Loretta (Kuennen) Elsbernd; sister, Margaret (Felix) Wenthold brothers, Leo (Rita) Hackman, Anselm (Lenora) Hackman, Alphonse (Betty) Hackman, Florian Hackman and Jerome (Darlyne) Hackman; and brothers and sisters-in-law, William Bohach, Lawrence Elsbernd, Paul (Darlene) Elsbernd, Ray Kuhn, Jerry (Joanne) Elsbernd, Fr. Elmer Elsbernd, Dick Faas, and Kathy Schissel.
