Geraldine Hackman Obituary, Death – On December 25, 2022, my grandmother, Geraldine “Gerry” Hackman, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her own home. She had reached the ripe old age of 102 at the time. Her birth took place in the early spring of 1920. She was a tag-along child in 1919 when the Spanish Flu pandemic was at its height and everyone stayed home because of it. Her parents, Dutch Paul Zaudke (45) and Theresa Marie Schmidt were both elderly at the time (41). When she was ten years old, her mother passed away at the age of 51 after a long battle with cancer. After that, her sister Marie became an extremely significant figure in her life.
In 1940, when she was just 20 years old, she tied the knot with Vincent R. Hackman. The ceremony took place in the church’s rectory, and the officiant was the priest. The couple’s friends, Walter and Florence McAllister, defended them throughout the situation. They didn’t go on a honeymoon since they couldn’t afford it, so after the ceremony, they traveled to Lawler, Iowa, to the home of Vince’s oldest sister, Margaret Reihle, for supper and to spend their wedding night there. Theresa was the couple’s first child and she was born in 1941. In the year 1942, a boy who would later be known as Vince “Buzz” was born. 1942 was the year when Gerry’s father passed away at the age of 68.
In 1948, a daughter by the name of Patricia was brought into the world. The year 1950 also saw the birth of a second daughter, Margaret “Peggy.” William “Bill” was their only other child, and he was born in 1958. After 30 years of marriage, her spouse passed away from an unexpected illness in 1970. He had been only 52 years old at the time.
She shared with me on Christmas Day a year ago that the key to having a long life is to discover a way to like oneself and to laugh every day, especially on the days when there is nothing humorous to laugh about. Grandma Hackman, you will be deeply missed by all of us. She led a full and happy life; she laughed every day; she loved everyone; she did not appear to pass judgment on anyone, and she was content with who she was.