Robert L. Hackl, age 82, resident of Manitowoc, died peacefully Thursday night, December 20, 2018 at the Aurora Medical Center, with family at his side.
Bob was born in Milwaukee on April 14, 1936, son of the late LeRoy and Irene (Holton) Hackl. He was a graduate of Pius High School in West Allis ( class of ’54 ) and earned a bachelors degree in Marketing, with an Engineering minor from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Bob spent 4 years in the U. S. Navy, traveling to Holland, England, Scotland, France, Italy, Spain, Brazil, South Africa, New Zealand and the south polar continent, Antarctica. He has seen Mount Erebus belching a mushroom cloud and been attacked by predatory birds during an inland trek. While on NATO exercises in the North Atlantic, his first ship had a too-close encounter with a Russian spy-trawler. Later, on another ship, they brought the first nuclear weapons to the British Isles and made 11 such trips to Scotland’s Holy Loch. His last ship, the ice breaker “Glacier”, took him on great adventures including a 6-month trip around the world. He received, in 1962, a Letter of Commendation for his work in the Antarctic. During all, he took great pride in being a “non-officer”.
His career field was information technology in several Fortune 500 Corporations. His first business task was to create a computer department “from scratch” for plants in New England. He later managed computer system development for factories located in the U.S., Brazil, Mexico and Sweden. Still later, he directed computer centers located in the U.S., Canada and England, finally retiring after developing “e-commerce” applications for a company in Texas. In between, he developed what author George Plossl called the “standard for Material Requirements Planning applications for job-shop factories”… which involved turning the calendars side-ways.
Bob served as Scout Master for an “Eagle” Boy Scout troop in Appleton. While there, he also taught night religion classes to 6th graders. In 1988, Bob served as chairman of the Manitowoc Salmon Derby. He served two years as president of the Wisconsin Federation of Sport Fishing Clubs, and spent nearly a decade working with the WDNR on Lake Michigan projects. In 1991, he was named “Sport Fisherman of the Year”, and also spent several years using his boat for Big Brothers/Sisters Lake Michigan Fishing.
Bob was initiated into the Elks by Manitowoc 687 and ultimately became the Exalted Ruler. He served as the District Deputy for Northeast Wisconsin in 1985-86; was State President in 1997-98, and was Wisconsin’s Special Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler for 2008-09-10. When a Two Rivers Elk, he was named “Elk of theYear” in 1991-92; He spent 15 years organizing, with local Elks and Eagles, the annual “Fire/Policeman of the Year” banquet; and 30 years organizing that City’s Flag Day Programs. Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Elks Association, in 2000, distributed his book “100 Years of Elkdom in Wisconsin”. Bob also had a long-term interest in telescopes, Lake Michigan fishing and has re-created a portion of West Virginia, in 1910, on a large model railroad. He counts many modelers as his friends, as he does with his long-term hunting buddy, Bob Schuh.
On August 14, 2010, Bob married Ruth A. Heili at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Manitowoc.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth; son & daughter-in-law, Steve (Christine) Hackl of Kiel; his step-children: Julie Kanugh (special friend, Jeff Shoemaker) of Menasha, David (Linda) Heili of Manitowoc, Christopher (Karen) Heili of Howards Grove, Robert (Lisa) Heili of Manitowoc, Wayne (Stacie) Heili of Casper, Wyoming; along with many grandchildren. He is further survived by one brother, Richard (Chris) Hackl of Arizona; and one niece, Briana.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 28, 2018 at St. Francis of Assisi Parish on Grand – 1416 Grand Ave., Manitowoc, WI. Rev. Douglas LeCaptain will officiate at the memorial mass, with inurnment at Calvary Chapel Mausoleum in Manitowoc.
The family will greet relatives and friends at Deja & Martin Funeral Chapels, 1506 18th Street, Two Rivers, from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening, Dec. 27th. Visitation will continue at the church Friday morning, after 9:30 a.m. until the time of mass at 11:00 a.m.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.dejamartin.com.
Deja & Martin Funeral Chapels, 1506 18th St. Two Rivers is assisting the Hackl family with funeral arrangements.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the caregivers of Aurora at Home Hospice Team, especially Amber; and the nursing staff of Aurora Medical Center for the wonderful care and compassion extended to Bob during his illness. Your kindness is very much appreciated.
