Barbara Hackman, 74

Barbara A. Hackman, age 74, of Sturgis, passed away peacefully Thursday afternoon, Jan. 7, 2010, surrounded by her family at her home.

She was born March 31, 1935 in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Joseph D. and Alta L. (Summey) Embler.

Barbara was a lifelong resident of Sturgis and graduated from Sturgis High School with the class of 1953. She continued her education at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, where she received a bachelor degree.

On Sept. 14, 1957, she married Robert R. Hackman at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sturgis. He died May 22, 1983.

She had been employed as an executive secretary at Wade Electric Company in Sturgis for several years. Together with her husband since 1972 and for the past 25 years with her sons, she owned and operated Foglesong Funeral Home, now known as Hackman Family Funeral Homes in Sturgis.

Barbara was an active member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sturgis, where for many years she served on the Altar Society. She was also a member of the Michigan and National Funeral Directors Association, Selected Independent Funeral Homes and the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce.

Barbara loved family time at her home on Big Fish Lake in Sturgis. What she truly cherished most in her life was time spent with her three grandchildren.

She is survived by two sons, Steven (Colleen) Hackman and Gregory (Amy) Hackman, both of Sturgis; three grandchildren, Christopher Hackman, a student at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Bethany Hackman, a student at the Art Institute in Indianapolis and Sarah Hackman at home; three sisters, Susan (Kenneth) Lindsay of Houston, Texas, Doris Green of Alamo, Calif., and Betty Rinker of Carmichael, Calif.; a brother, Wayne (Barbara) Embler of Bronson; and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband; a brother, Joseph A. Embler; and infant twin brothers, George and Jerry Embler.

The family will receive friends from 2-5 p.m. Sunday and 4-8 p.m. Monday at the Hackman Family Funeral Homes Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis.

Funeral services celebrating the life of Barbara Hackman will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church of Sturgis. The Rev. Michael Klafehn and the Rev. Calvin Kolzow will officiate. A graveside committal will follow the service at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis.

The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mrs. Hackman’s memory consider the Trinity Lutheran Church, 406 S. Lakeview Ave., Sturgis, MI 49091 or the Robert R. Hackman Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o: Sturgis Foundation, 310 N. Franks Ave., Sturgis, MI 49091.