Don Ackerman transitioned peacefully from this world on February 7, 2023. He never wanted to live in a world without his wife, Barbara Ann, who passed away almost 4 years ago – and his wish to be reunited has been granted.
Don was a naturalized Texan, having relocated from the Midwest in the 1970’s, back when Austin was low-tech and easy to get around in. He could regale you with the story of him driving a VW Bug down from Iowa full of Barb’s precious plants – the greenhouse on wheels as he called it. That marriage of 50+ years has it’s fair share of stories just like that – Don on a short leash with a list full of honey-do’s. He wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
The consummate engineer, Don was a repository of information and a walking discovery channel. In his younger years, archaeology and paleontology were subjects Don explored and read everything he could get his hands on. In his later years at Legacy of Crystal Falls, Don was a bingo and trivia shark and had a drawer full of “winnings” to prove it. He was a lover of history and classic cars, but his true life-long obsession was with trains of all kinds. He could spend hours watching documentaries on old locomotives, especially steam engines. He loved riding on trains back up to the Midwest to visit friends and family – but would get equally frustrated at some long delays or having to ride a bus back when the train didn’t make it all the way for one reason or another.
Don raised his kids on sports. He was an avid baseball (lifelong St Louis Cardinal fan), boxing, basketball, and racing fan. He raised a couple of kids that could hit a ball really well thanks to the hours and hours he spent throwing tennis balls at them in practice. In addition to sports, there was usually a trip to the Texas coast during the summer with family and friends. An on-going joke was a reminder of the time the family followed the tourist signs to the “The Big Tree” in Rockport. From that point on, the kids would always ask if we were going to see the big tree, no matter the destination.
Don was preceded in death by his father, John; his mother Irene; his sister Patty Lou; and the love of his life and wife Barbara Ann. Don is survived by his daughter, Tricia Cassady, son Doug Ackerman; and granddaughter Alexis Ackerman – who was the apple of his eye.
Services will be held March 11, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenchapelofthehills.com for the Ackerman family.
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