Leon J. Hackenmiller, 81, of Stacyville, Iowa, was accepted into God’s loving arms Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at the Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage, Iowa.

Leon was born Sept. 21, 1937, in Stacyville, the second son of seven children of Alfred and Cecilia (Klinkhammer) Hackenmiller. Leon graduated from Little Cedar High School and went to serve his country for two years in the United States Army. Upon his return home, he met Theresa Green. They were united in marriage on May 21, 1960, at the Visitation Catholic Church. This past May, they celebrated 58 years together. The couple went on to have three children, Mike, Kathy and Jenny. Upon the death of Theresa’s only sister, their family grew to add six more children, Mary Jo, Jean, Larry, Julie, Susie and Fran Kramer. Leon worked many years at Oliver/White Farm in Charles City, Iowa, Hormel Foods, Ruan Transportation, and retired from the Mitchell County Highway Department. Leon enjoyed fishing; he just completed his 47th consecutive trip to the Lake of the Woods, where he caught the fish of the day, the weekend prior to going in to hospice care. Leon also enjoyed hunting in his younger years, playing and coaching softball games, bowling, golfing, playing cribbage and cards. Most of all, Leon loved time well spent with his family.    

Leon is survived by his wife, Theresa Hackenmiller; his children, Mary Jo (Geoff) Wilson, Jean (Kevin) Knoepke, Larry (Sandy) Kramer, Mike (Schelly) Hackenmiller, Julie (Scott) Weir, Kathy (Steve) Arnold, Susie (Pat) Nettleton, Jenny (Jason) Currier and Fran (Tim) Gorde; 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two brothers, Paul (Rita) Hackenmiller and Charles (Shirley) Hackenmiller; and a sister, Betty (Barney) Retterath.

He is reunited in eternal life with his parents, Alfred and Ceal; three brothers, John, Gene and Kenneth; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ralph and Monica Green; sister-in-law, Patricia Kramer; and brother-in-law, Leonard Kramer.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, at Visitation Catholic Church in Stacyville with Father Raymond Burkle officiating. Visitation was held from 3:30-7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage. Burial will be in Visitation Catholic Cemetery with military honors by the American Legion Hale Penney Fuller Post 569 of Stacyville.