Obituary of Rev. Dr. Donald Leon Hackbarth

Rev Dr. Donald Leon Hackbarth, age 75 of Pleasant Prairie, was called Home on Wednesday, May 30th.  He was the retired Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church & School in Pleasant Prairie.

He was born on December 17, 1942, in Milwaukee, WI.  He was the son of the late Clarence and Ruth (Stolper) Hackbarth.

Pastor Don married Beverly Ann (Baumann) Hackbarth on June 13, 1970, at Holy Ghost Lutheran Church in Milwaukee.

Pastor Don has three children, Timothy (Heather) Hackbarth, Michael (Jill) Hackbarth, and Rebekah (Adam) MacDougall.  He has five grandchildren, An angel-Baby Hackbarth, Emmanuel, Faith, David, and Hayden.

Pastor Don served his country in the United States Army from 1962-1968. He was employed as an engineer for Waukee Engineering Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Feeling the call of God, he left engineering to attend Concordia Theological Seminary and graduated with a Masters of Divinity in May 1978.  He was called to and accepted the call to be Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in 1978. Pastor Don spent his entire 37 year ministry at Good Shepherd.  In January of 1995 Pastor Don received his doctorate from Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois.  Pastor Don served his community for over 27 years as the Fire Rescue Chaplain for the Pleasant Prairie Fire Department and for several years as the Chaplain for the Pleasant Prairie Police Department and surrounding communities. He also served on the Parks Commission and then the Plan Commission. He loved to play with his grandchildren, loved woodworking, model airplanes, and old cars.

Pastor Don knew he was a forgiven child of God through baptism and shared that joy with others throughout his ministry. That ministry included being a Theology teacher at Racine Lutheran High School where he touched the lives of many students through sharing God’s Word.  He believed the Gospel of his salvation: Jesus died on the cross to take away all of our sins and rose on Easter Sunday to give us Eternal life in heaven. His Heavenly Father called him home to live with him in Paradise. To God alone be the glory! Hold Faith!

Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 6, 2018, from 5:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with a funeral service immediately following at 6:00 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 4311 - 104th Street, Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158.  

In lieu of flowers, the family will be accepting donations toward a Donald Hackbarth Memorial Scholarship Fund for a student pursuing a seminary or teaching degree.