Henry "Hank" L. Hackman

Henry Louis “Hank” Hackman, 89, of Granville died Tuesday June 20, 2017 at St. Margaret’s Hospital in Spring Valley.

Memorial services will be 5:00 PM Sunday in the Hurst Funeral Home in La Salle with Rev. Paul Meismer officiating. Visitation will be 3:00 PM Sunday until time of services. Private burial will be at a later date.

Henry was born in Peru on June 4, 1928 to Fred and Helen (Hummer) Hackman. He grew up in La Salle and attended local public schools, graduating from La Salle-Peru Township High School in 1946. Immediately after graduation, he enlisted in the US Army and served in Korea on occupation duty from 1946-1948. After discharge, he married his high school sweetheart Phyllis Stachowiak in Chicago on October 15, 1949. Henry was called back from the Army Reserve and served again in Korea in the 35th Infantry Regiment Combat Team. He was honorably discharged in September 1951 and returned to civilian life with his wife, Phyllis. He was a 70 year plus member of the VFW. In 1956, Henry started as a new agent for State Farm Insurance and built a successful local agency now headed by his son Henry A. Hackman. He was a member and past president of the Peru Rotary Club.

Henry, his wife, and family enjoyed boating on the Illinois River and travels exploring much of the US and abroad. He enjoyed golfing, playing cards, friends, and involvement in his community. After retirement, he and Phyllis spent many hours on the road in their RV, enjoying winters in the Florida Keys and then in south Texas. They became winter Texans, settling in Long Island Village in Port Isabel, TX. Since August 2016, Henry has been a resident of the Illinois Veteran’s Home at La Salle.

Henry is survived by his children Dr. Jan Hackman of Northampton, MA and Henry A. (Debra) Hackman of La Salle; brother-in-law Kenneth (Penny) Stachowiak of Indio, CA; grandchildren Philip Henry (Natasha) Derr-Hackman of Providence, RI, Brielle Hackman of Chicago, and Henry Tyler Hackman of Austin, TX.

Henry was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Phyllis in 2014.

The family thanks the staff of the Illinois Veteran’s Home for their excellent care.

Memorials may be made to the Phyllis Hackman Nursing Scholarship at IVCC or the Illinois Veteran’s Home Social Fund.

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