Geraldine Hackman Death, Obituary – Geraldine Hackman passed away in the peace and quiet of her own home on December 25, 2022. Her name was Geraldine “Gerry” Hackman. She was 102 years old at the time of her death. Her arrival into the world occurred in the early spring of 1920. In 1919, at the height of the Spanish Flu pandemic, she was a tag along child for her older parents, Dutch Paul Zaudke (45) and Theresa Marie Schmidt. At that time, everyone stayed home to avoid acquiring the sickness, therefore she was a tag along child for her parents (41). Her mother passed away unexpectedly from cancer when she was just 10 years old, when she was 51 years old.
In the years that followed, her sister Marie would emerge as a significant role in her life and become one of her closest friends. 1940 was the year when her wedding to Vincent R. Hackman took place; she was just 20 years old at the time. The event was presided over by the priest, who presided over it in the church’s rectory where it was held. Walter and Florence McAllister, who were the couple’s friends, were there to provide support for them in their undertakings. They were unable to afford a honeymoon, so following the wedding, they traveled to Lawler, Iowa, to spend their first night as a married couple at the home of Vince’s oldest sister, Margaret Reihle.
There, they ate supper and slept the night at her house. In the year 1941, they had their first child, a daughter named Theresa. In the year 1942, a son was welcomed into the world who was given the name Vince “Buzz.” Gerry’s father, who had lived a full life and reached the age of 68, passed away in the year 1942. In the year 1948, a new human being with the name Patricia entered the world. The year 1950 marked the birth of the couple’s second daughter, Margaret “Peggy.” William “Bill” was the only child that they had that made it to adulthood, and he was born in 1958.
Her husband tragically passed away in 1970, leaving her widowed after the couple had been married for a full three decades. He had recently turned 52. On Christmas Day of the year before, she told me that the secret to having a long life is to find a way to enjoy oneself and to laugh every day, even when there is nothing hilarious to laugh at. She said that this is the key to the secret to living a long life. Grandma Hackman, each and every one of us will miss you very much. She did laugh each and every day, appeared to have no preconceived notions about anybody else, liked everyone, and was beloved by everyone, including herself. Her existence was packed to the brim with happiness and successful endeavors.