Margaret Hackbarth

Margaret Lena(Schmidt) Hackbarth, age 96 years 7 months and 8 days, passed away peacefully in her sleep to her new home in Heaven on January 1, 2017. She lived at the Willows Assisted Living Facility in St. Joseph, Michigan.

Margaret was born in Akron, Iowa; moved to Faulkton, South Dakota; and then to Watertown, Wisconsin. She graduated from Watertown High School, worked at the shoe factory, and attended St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Watertown. She met and married Oscar Hackbarth, through their common interest in the youth group, on March 26, 1944. Oscar and Margaret lived in the following cities as they worked and served their Lord: Harrisburg, PA (1944), Watertown, WI (1945 - 1952), Milwaukee, WI (1953 - 1958), Sacramento, CA (1958), Fair Oaks, CA (1958 - 1960), back to Milwaukee (1961 - 1963), and then to Fairfield, IL (1964 - 1966), Peoria, IL (1967 - 1969), Omaha, NE (1969 - 1988), Mayville, WI (1989), Sun Prairie, WI (1990 - 2000), back to Watertown (2001 - 2012), with Margaret finally living in St. Joseph, MI (2013 - 2017). Margaret was a homemaker (and learned how to pack up a household before each move!) and was employed at various jobs to keep the family solvent. She worked in the cafeteria while Oscar attended the Lutheran Lay Training Institute (Concordia College - Milwaukee) in the early 1960s, worked in the sales office for Carson Pirie Scott in Peoria, was a PBX operator for Methodist Hospital in Omaha, and a tireless church volunteer. Margaret and Oscar volunteered many hours at the Lutheran Student Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to mentor foreign exchange students and help them improve their English skills. Margaret was the consummate cook and organizer during her family's summer travels and campouts, and enjoyed retirement trips to Alaska, Japan and Taiwan. She was the prayer warrior of the family - always remembering all in prayer.

Her marriage was blessed with three children: Richard OE (JoAnne) Hackbarth, St. Joseph, MI; Warren A Hackbarth, Mason, MI; Mark R (Yumi) Hackbarth, Scottsdale, AZ; three grandchildren: Richard D (Tracey) Hackbarth, Kirstin A (Roger) Meier; Rebecca L (William) Sitas; nine great grandchildren: Abigail, Thomas, Samuel, and John Hackbarth; Karah and Reidun Meier; Kathryn, Naomi, and Leah Sitas; and one great great grandchild to be born in March.

She was preceded in death by Oscar on January 9, 2013; her parents: Robert Carl Schmidt and Elizabeth (Lieschen) Auguste Sophie Groehler; her siblings: August, Elmer, Rosalia (Graf), Wilmer, Eleonora (Piper), Lucille (Lenius), Olitha (Kipfmiller), Robert, Martin, Arthur, and Lloyd. The surviving youngest brother Brent A (Lois) Schmidt; brother-in-law George (Marilyn) Hackbarth; and sister-in-law Ramona Hackbarth all residing in Watertown; as well as numerous friends, nieces and nephews around the country.

Visitation will be held before the funeral service on Saturday, January 14, 2017 from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Watertown with Rev. David K. Groth officiating. A luncheon in the church hall will follow the service. Burial will take place at Pilgrim's Rest Cemetery in Lebanon, WI. Memorials may be made to The Lutheran Church - Mission Central, 40718 Highway E 16, Mapleton, Iowa 51304, to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Watertown, to Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Joseph, MI, or the donor's choice.

I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears... Oh taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Psalm 34

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