Mildred L. Hackler

Mildred Louise Elizabeth Hackler went to be with her Lord on April 5, 2011, in Shawnee, KS. Born August 11, 1921, in Tampa, KS, the third child of eight to Grover Cleveland and Magdalena Stemmermann Hackler, she graduated from Ramona High School in 1938. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, KS, and a Master's degree in education from Kansas State University. Teaching elementary school for 52 years, Mildred taught all eight grades except the first grade. She taught 20 years at Trinity Lutheran School, Atchison; 3 years at Eisenhower, Ft. Leavenworth; 20 years at Lincoln, Junction City; and 8 years at Jefferson, Ft. Riley. She also taught English as a second language for 3 years, and art and summer school in Junction City. Considered one of the finest teachers in Junction City, she substitute taught until she was 80.

A veteran of World War II, she enlisted in the Navy Waves and proudly served her country from 1944 to 1946 as a Pharmacist III Class at the Naval hospital in San Leandro, CA.

Always active in church, she was organist for St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Junction City, for many years and was a member of its women's missionary group. She was also active in the Retired Teacher's Association, the Breakfast Club, and the Ladies Reading Circle, all in Junction City.

To know Mildred was to know about her family, whom she loved dearly. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Roland, Eugene, Robert and Daryl, an older sister who died in infancy, her sister Eunice "Teddy" Baresel, her brothers-in-law Arthur Baresel and Richard Beilharz, and sister-in-law Betty (Roland) Hackler. She is survived by her sister Jean Hackler Beilharz Spreen, and husband Francis of Fairway, her sisters-in-law Ruth Ann (Eugene) Hackler, Olathe, and Emma (Robert) Hackler, Charleston, IL. Known to her many nieces and nephews as Aunt Mike or Aunt Mickey, she was an adored, fun aunt, who always knew how to entertain the little ones with her story telling and art projects. She had a knack for letting each one know they held a special place in her heart and always kept them in her prayers. Her sixteen nephews and nieces survive her: Randy and Steve Hackler, Jane Ediger; Amy Hackler, Susan Fetsch and Nancy Beaver; Renée and Thomas Baresel; Debbie Mangrum, Scott, Daryl, Martha and Paul Hackler; Becky and Gretchen Beilharz, and Bethany Humphrey. She is also survived by 34 great nieces and nephews and several great, great nieces and nephews. Mildred lived her faith by holding up each family member and each student as a unique Child of God and led them by her example of love for her Lord.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2011, at 11 o'clock a.m., at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, rural Junction City. A visitation will be held on Friday, April 8, 2011, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel, 203 N. Washington, Junction City, KS, with burial following service at Highland Cemetery, Junction City, KS.

Memorial contributions have been designated to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 9719 Clarks Creek Road, Junction City, KS 66441.