RICKY L. HACKER

It has pleased Almighty God to call from this vale of tears to Himself in Heaven, the soul of Ricky Lee “Rick” Hacker of Omaha, and formally of Humboldt, who died peacefully on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, at the Josie Harper Hospice House in Omaha, with his family by his side, after a courageous battle with kidney cancer that metastasized to his bones. He was 70 years young and full of life!
Rick’s visitation was held Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024 at Heafey Hoffman Dworak Cutler Mortuaries in Omaha, with entombment on Friday, Dec. 13 in Omaha National Cemetery, with Military Honors provided by Benson VFW Post 2503, Omaha. Funeral service followed at Lutheran Church of the Master (East Campus) in Omaha, with Pastor Chris Andersen, officiating. Congregational Hymns were, “The Strife Is Over, the Battle Done,” and “Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” (The Navy Hymn.) Pastor Kip Tyler sang, “The Lord’s Prayer,” with Becky Hallberg as Organist.
Following the services, Rick’s family greeted friends and relatives to lunch in the fellowship hall of the church.
Memorials received from friends and family in the Humboldt area, will be put towards Rick’s paver at the Humboldt Veterans Memorial. Those wishing to send memorials, may direct them to Donella Hacker, P.O. Box 42, Dakota City, IA 50529.
Ricky Lee “Rick” Hacker, the son of Richard Lowell “Dick” and Dolores Gretchen (Schoon) Hacker, was born on Aug. 20, 1954 at the Lutheran Hospital in Fort Dodge. He was Baptized into the Christian Faith in the fall of 1954, and he later Confirmed his Faith in Christ in 1969, both at Trinity Lutheran Church, north of Rutland. He was raised on the Hacker family farm east of Bradgate, alongside his siblings, Donella, Shari, and Tim, where he cherished many happy memories of farm life with family, friends, and neighbors. In his growing up years, Rick’s parents instilled in him the values of hard work and close-knit family bonds. (Church and Sunday school were always attended in the Hacker household.) In the fall of 1969, the Hacker family moved into Humboldt, where they became active members of Zion Lutheran Church. Rick then attended Humboldt High School, where he was active in extra curricular activities, graduating with the “Class of 1973.”
After graduation he joined the Navy, following in the same footsteps as his father. Rick proudly served his country aboard the USS Pyro during the Vietnam War as a Radioman. Upon his honorable discharge, Rick completed his Bachelor’s degree in Business Education at the University of Northern Iowa. He then taught high school in Fort Dodge, until moving to Spencer and teaching high school there as a business and DECA teacher. He later moved to Harlan where he was Safety Manager for an engineering firm. Eventually moving to Omaha, he was united in holy matrimony with Connie Gerlt on June 13, 1992 at Lutheran Church of the Master (East Campus) in Omaha. The couple were Blessed with two daughters, Christine and Colleen, both becoming the apple of their father’s eye.
Due to health reasons, Rick retired from the Nebraska Methodist Health System as Safety Director after 25 years of faithful service.
Rick enjoyed family reunions, friends, traveling, music, anything Disney, and especially taking many memorable family vacations to Disney World with his girls. As an Adventure Guides dad, he enjoyed camping and Pinewood Derby races with his daughters. Though Nebraska was now his home, he claimed Iowa had the best sweet corn! Most recently Rick was eagerly anticipating the arrival of his first grandchild in May, and being “GRANDPA!” Above all Rick treasured time spent with family and appreciated the simple things in life.
Rick is Lovingly Remembered by his wife of 32 yrs, Connie of Omaha, NE; his beloved daughters and sons-in-law, Christine (Nick) Hacker-Van Haute of Omaha, NE, and Colleen (Doug) Veys of Ralston, NE; his first grandchild due in May 2025; his siblings, Donella Hacker “Sis” of Dakota City; Shari Sorensen of Iowa City; and Tim Hacker of Las Vegas, NV; his nieces and nephews, Becky Peterson of Rutland; Darrick Harris of Dakota City; Cindy Miller of Humboldt; Carrie Schneider of West Branch; Megan Raddatz of Walker; Blake Hacker of Cedar Rapids; and Kyle Hacker of Marion; his great nieces and nephews, Heather, Jacob, Aubri, Caley, Cole, Cora, Ella, and Miley; a host of cousins; his aunts, Jan Maag of Belmont, CA, Alice Johnson of Lehigh, and Jean Schoon of Melbourne, FL; his mother-in-law, LaVonne Gerlt of Omaha, NE; and many other family members and friends.
He joins in Heaven his parents, Richard and Dolores; his grandparents, Chris and Gurina (Truelsen) Hacker, and Bert and Jennie (Pruin) Schoon; his aunts, uncles; father-in-law, Joseph Gerlt; sister-in-law, Vicki Tomlinson; and many other loved ones.
Rick was an active member of Lutheran Church of the Master (East Campus) in Omaha, where he enjoyed teaching confirmation and attending Wed night Bible study. He was also a former member of Zion Lutheran Church in Humboldt.
“Be still, my soul; the hour is hast’ning on, when we shall be forever with the Lord, when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored. Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.”
We praise and magnify our gracious Lord for extending His salvation in Jesus Christ as Savior to Rick and all who place their trust in Him, and we look forward to the blessed reunion to come in Christ’s presence. “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”