John Hackenberg, 76
John Charles Hackenberg, long time resident of the Flathead Valley and Kila, died on July 13, 2023, at his residence in the El Dorado Ranch near San Felipe, Baja California Norte.
Born in Hinsdale, Illinois, on July 10, 1947, he graduated from Hinsdale Township High School in 1965. He attended Park University, Parkville, Missouri and the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota.
A caring person and natural storyteller, he lived an adventurous life including service in the US Navy during Vietnam, an independent contracting business insulating Montana houses, early experimentation in the Cannabis industry and the writing of a novel based on life experiences.
He was kind and curious, worked hard and told the truth. He helped others knowing that service is joy and he had a talent for reaching out to family and friends making daily calls that brightened their days and lives.
An outdoorsman and naturalist, he loved his North-South lifestyle, spring and summer in the Montana mountains, fall and winter in Mexico's Sonoran desert.
A "car and motorcycle guy" he drove BMW, Fiat, Volvo, Harley Davidson, Yamaha and Toyota vehicles over the years.
He was a dog lover, having enjoyed large and small "best friends" for most of his life.
As a rock 'n' roll enthusiast with his nearly photographic memory, he knew all the bands and songs of the 60's and 70's.
During 1966-1969, he served in the U.S. Navy as a member of the starboard catapult crew on USS Ticonderoga, an attack aircraft carrier, and made three deployments on Yankee Station off the coast of Vietnam.
Over time, like most of the country, he became disillusioned about the war and later suffered post service physical and mental effects of PTSD and Agent Orange from returning aircraft.
He was preceded in death by his father, Richard G. Hackenberg in 1991; and his mother, Dorothy Christianson Hackenberg in 1993.
He is survived by his son, Darin Hackenberg and his daughter-in-law Mindy Cochran of Kalispell; his former wife, Cindy Hackenberg of Livingston; his sister, Marthe J. Hird (Charles) of Marshall, Missouri; his two brothers, Thomas J. Hackenberg (Susie) of Richmond, Virginia and Richard B. Hackenberg of Berkeley, California; and his dearest friend Helen Newsom of Mentone, California.
John's life will be celebrated at a Flathead Lake gathering of family and friends, August 25-27. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation be made to The Veterans of Foreign Wars.