Ronald Frank HACKBARTH

HACKBARTH, CHARLES, GARTON, WESENBERG, BRAMBLE, WILLIAMS, WRIGHT, HERMANN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/21/2012 at 18:11:26

April 29, 1935 --- October 16, 2012

Dows, IA -- Ronald F. Hackbarth, age 77, of Houston, Texas and long-time resident of Dows, passed away Tuesday October 16, 2012, in Houston. Funeral services for Ronald F. Hackbarth will be held at 11 a.m. Monday October 22, 2012 at the Morgan United Methodist Church east of Dows. Pastor Judy Eilder will officiate. Burial will be in the Morgan United Methodist Church cemetery. Visitation for Ronald F. Hackbarth will be from 10 a.m. until service time Monday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Dugger Funeral Home, 100 North Lee Street in Dows.

Ron is survived by his wife, Marianna of Houston, children, Steven and wife, Linda of Alvin, TX, Teresa Charles and husband, Gene of Parker, CO, four grandchildren, Portia Herman and husband, Jason, Steven Hackbarth Jr. and wife, Amanda, Keiffer Garton, Amanda Garton, two great-grandchildren, Makayla and Mercaydes, identical twin brother, Donald Hackbarth and wife, Sandra, two sisters, Betty Wesenberg, Joan Bramble and husband, John, and numerous other family and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents. Dugger Funeral Home, 100 North Lee St., Dows, IA.

Des Moines Register - Iowa
October 21, 2012

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Ronald F. Hackbarth, age 77, of Houston, Texas, and long-time resident of Dows, Iowa, passed away Tuesday Oct. 16, 2012, in Houston. Funeral services for Ronald F. Hackbarth will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 22, at the Morgan United Methodist Church east of Dows. Pastor Judy Eilder will officiate. Burial will be in the Morgan United Methodist Church cemetery. Visitation for Ronald F. Hackbarth will be from 10 a.m. until service time Monday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Dugger Funeral Home, 100 N. Lee Street in Dows. The family wishes memorials in Ronald F. Hackbarth's name be directed toward Washington High School Scholarships for those students pursuing a college education. Contribution may be sent to Marianna Hackbarth at 11319 Sagepark Lane Houston, Texas 77089.

Ronald Frank, the son of Harold and Clara Williams Hackbarth, was born April 29, 1935, near Dows in Morgan Township. He attended country schools and Dows High School where he graduated in 1953. Ronald then attended William Penn in Oskaloosa and Iowa Wesleyan in Mount Pleasant. He graduated from Iowa Wesleyan with a bachelor's degree in education. While in college, Ron was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and played in three sports. He excelled in football and baseball and played for AAA baseball clubs for a time. Ronald was united in marriage to Marianna Wright on Dec. 27, 1956, in Mount Pleasant. Ron began his career as an educator and coach. Ronald taught and coached in Montour, Baxter, Bloomfield and Washington. Ronald earned a master's degree in education from Northeast Missouri State, and second master's degree and EDS from the University of Iowa. He continued as an educator for 33 years. Ron worked as a principle and as the assistant superintendent of schools in Washington.

Ron had a very natural ability to relate with kids. His winning smile, blue eyes and wonderful dimples made him a popular and respected teacher, administrator and coach. After being diagnosed with M.S., Ronald was forced to take an early retirement in 1989. The couple moved to Texas, where they lived in Fort Worth until 1996, then moved to Houston. Ron and Marianna were blessed with two children, Steven and Teresa. His family fondly remember how his educational abilities influenced the household growing up. Devoted parents, Ron and Marianna followed and encouraged Steven and Teresa in all their activities. Vacations were always meticulously planned around achieving the goal of traveling to all 48 states, which was accomplished.

Although Ron had M.S., he never let his illness slow him down. Living 34 years with the illness, he beat many odds. After his children had grown and started their own families, Ron's life revolved around following their families' lives in Colorado, Iowa and Texas, all the while fighting his disability. Ron was baptized and confirmed at the Morgan United Methodist Church, and membership in the United Methodist Church followed him throughout his life. Ron served on the Iowa School Administrators, Lions Club and M.S. Society.

Ron is survived by his wife, Marianna of Houston; children, Steven and wife, Linda of Alvin, Texas, Teresa Charles and husband, Gene of Parker, Colo.; four grandchildren: Portia Hermann and husband, Jason, Steven Hackbarth Jr. and wife, Amanda, Keiffer Garton, Amanda Garton; two great grandchildren, Makayla and Mercaydes; identical twin brother, Donald Hackbarth and wife, Sandra; two sisters, Betty Wesenberg and husband, Dwight, Joan Bramble and husband, John; numerous other family and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents.