ROBERTA HACKBARTH

Roberta "Bobbie" Jane Hackbarth, age 71, wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend passed away on Friday, March 27, 2015 surrounded by her family peacefully at home. She was born on July 14, 1943 to the late Ruth and Ralph Hintze in Wausau, WI. Bobbie married Stu Hackbarth on June 22, 1962 and enjoyed 52 years of a loving marriage. Through that time they moved to Wausau, WI; Wichita, KS; Watertown, WI; West Bend, WI; Madison, SD; and have resided in the Appleton/Neenah area for the last 40 years. Bobbie had an amazing professional career and willing heart to give back to the community, church and people in her life. She started her career working at the Brokaw Paper Mill in Wausau. Marriage took her family to West Bend where, besides being a stay at home mom, she taught Sunday school and worked in a craft store, all while learning to play bridge. After a family transfer to Madison SD, she started an elementary school reading program and worked as a society editor for the local paper. She took a piano performance class at the local college and served as a great hostess for her husband's business associates. As an active member of the Country Club in Madison, she often golfed, won a golfing tournament, and planned many events. The move to the Fox Cities allowed her to continue her career as an office manager for a local dentist office and as an editor for a local magazine. She spent the last 24 years at Landmark Staffing as Vice President of Administration. During those 24 years she held a number of titles: accountant, computer specialist, trainer, purchasing manager, facilitated the design and layout of eleven locations, and served as an advisor to the President. She had an amazing ability to give of her time and served as a Sunday school teacher for over 20 years, was President of the local chapter of Women in Management, President of the Neenah Rotary, received a Paul Harris award, hosted two Rotary exchange students, served as President of the local PEO chapter and on various committees at First United Methodist Church in Appleton, a Stephen minister, also served as President of her and Stu's Marriage Encounter Group and was a Board Member of the Fox Valley Technical College Foundation. Bobbie and Stu both enjoyed their time "up-north" and both claimed to have caught the biggest fish, but we know that Bobbie was really the winner of that competition. She could tell you the most wonderful stories that would usually end in laughter, and could knit and crochet with the best of them. She often gave away her hand-made treasures to friends and others in need. She knitted prayer shawls for First United Methodist Church and was a member of Nifty Knitters. Bobbie was amazing at sending you a special card or note to let you know she was thinking of you. She had such a love for her grandchildren; they meant the world to her and she had a special bond with each one of them. Bobbie will be eternally loved and missed by her husband, Stuart L. Hackbarth, Neenah; their three children and their families: son, Kent Hackbarth and his wife Kelly of Appleton, and their children: Kyle, Kyra and Kaden; daughter, Kim Patterson of Appleton, and her special friend, Steve Erb; and her children: Christopher and Nic, as well as the father of her children, Tim Patterson; and daughter Kristine Hackbarth-Horn and her husband Tim of Appleton, and their children: Brittany and Lizzie. She is further survived by her two brothers and their wives: Ralph and Shirley Hintze, West Bend; and Randy and Birdie Hintze, Wausau; her sister-in-law and husband, Kathy and Len Griffith, Rochester, MN; and many special nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ruth and Ralph Hintze; and her brother, Robert Hintze, who passed at birth. A Memorial Service for Bobbie will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, April 13, 2015 at First United Methodist Church, 325 E. Franklin St., Appleton, Rev. Markus Wegenast officiating. A visitation will be held on Sunday, April 12, 2015 from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. at Neenah's Westgor Funeral Home and will continue on Monday at church from 11:30 A.M. until the hour of service. In lieu of flowers please consider donations to STRIVE at Neenah Rotary, the First United Methodist Church of Appleton, or Pancreatic Cancer research. Online condolences may be offered at www.caringbridge.org/visit/bobbiehackbarth or www.westgorfuneralhomes.com. A special thank you to Bobbie's doctors and healthcare team at ThedaCare, AMC Cancer Center, and Heartland Hospice Care for their compassion and care they provided during her journey.