Daniel Thomas Hacker

Daniel Thomas Hacker, 65, of rural Sleepy Eye passed away on August 19th from complications from ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease, after a 12-year battle. He died at home surrounded by his wife and children. He is now home with his Heavenly Father. Dan was born in Sleepy Eye to George and Helen Hacker on November 1st, 1952. He is the oldest of 13 children. He attended High School in Springfield and Vocational School in Jackson. He was very active in FFA and received National awards. He married the love of his life, Lynn Schumacher, on August 17th, 1974 in Door County, Wisconsin. Together they have owned Hacker's Tree Farm, Nursery and Greenhouse since 1981. Dan and Lynn were able to celebrate their 44th wedding anniversary surrounded by all the people he loved on Friday, August 17th, 2018. Dan never worked a day in his life. He truly loved the hard work of their business. Since his diagnosis in January of 2007 he has put his boots on every day and gone out to work. He has put on thousands of miles in his wheelchair working in his greenhouses and tree fields on their farm. He managed to squeeze every minute out of life, Dan was able to go outside and enjoy the view of his Christmas Tree field surrounded by his family just hours before he went to Heaven. Dan especially enjoyed sharing his love of pigs with his grandkids. His grandkids all showed pigs together at the Polka Town Hog Show, which Dan has been involved with for 47 years, and the Brown County Fair for many years. His absolute favorite week of the year was the Brown County Fair. He was able to enjoy one last fair this year and sample all his favorite fair foods and watch his grandkids show his pigs. Dan was an active member in St. John's Lutheran Church in Sleepy Eye, The Brown County Pork Producers Board, and the Minnesota Christmas Tree Growers Association. Dan is survived by his wife Lynn, daughter Heather (Spencer) Hammer, sons Matthew (Hailie) Hacker and Nicholas (Joeleen) Hacker. His grandchildren, Olivia and Violet Hammer, Emily, Jack, Wyatt and Caleb Hacker and Callan, Wesley and Ethan Hacker. His 12 siblings, Mike (Carol) Hacker, Goode, VA, Judy (Guy) Harding, Lake Benton, MN, Gerry (Rhonda) Hacker, Athens, AL, Nancy (Rick) Peterson, Bouton, IA, Tim (Laurie) Hacker, Hutchinson, MN, Peg (Scott) Breiholz, Forest, VA, Kevin (Tammy) Hacker, Glen Allen, VA, Brian (Patty) Hacker, Sleepy Eye, MN, Sue (Mark) Theobald, Roseville, MN, Paul Hacker, Rogers, MN, Scott (Dana) Hacker, League City, TX and Chris (Chantel) Hacker, Edina, MN. He was preceded in death by his infant son Thomas Daniel, his parents, George and Helen Hacker, his mother and father in law, Gordon and June Schumacher and brother in law Gordon Schumacher, Jr. Dan was a loving and selfless person and cared for all his people and animals. His family takes great joy in sharing his faith and that comfort will sustain us. He will be greatly missed. Visitation 1 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Tuesday, August 21, 2018 Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel 301 - 3rd Ave. S.W. Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085 Visitation 2 10:00 am - 11:00 am Wednesday, August 22, 2018 St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Sleepy Eye 221 Walnut Street SE Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085 Service Information 11:00 am Wednesday, August 22, 2018 St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Sleepy Eye 221 Walnut Street SE Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085