Daniel “Dan” Peter Hacking, 80, of Wadena, MN, passed away peacefully on March 27, 2026, at Lakewood Care Center in Staples, MN, with his family by his side.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Karvonen Funeral Home in Wadena. Visitation will be held at 9:00 a.m. prior to services at the funeral home. A private family burial will be held.
Dan was born December 30, 1945, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, to Alvin and Margareta (Shields) Hacking. He grew up in a creative family and spent his early years near the ocean, where his parents managed a lighthouse. He often described his childhood as “Huckleberry Finn on the ocean,” reflecting his adventurous spirit.
He graduated from Morse High School in Bath, Maine, in 1965, and later earned his degree from Tennessee Technological College in 1969. He completed graduate work in special education at the University of Tennessee and received his Master of Divinity from Lutheran Brethren Seminary in Fergus Falls in 1985.
Dan dedicated his life to education and ministry, teaching in Tennessee, Minnesota, and Alaska, and serving as a pastor in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
On October 12, 1974, he married Judith “Judy” Mae Erickson in Spicer, MN. Together they raised three children.
Dan was a gifted woodworker and blacksmith, known for crafting knives and fireplace sets, and for his ability to fix nearly anything. He was also a talented cook and baker, especially known for his apple pie. He loved his family deeply and took great joy in his grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Judy; children, Paul (Joanna) Hacking of Kalisz, Poland, Sara (Brent) Backstrom of Papillion, NE, and Naomi (Jason) Van Batavia of Wadena, MN; grandchildren, Greta, Joseph, Henry, Andrew, and Stella; brothers-in-law, Harold Erickson of Wadena, MN, and Charles Stringer of Melbourne, FL; and many extended family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Raymond and Walter; and sister, Edith Stringer.
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