Robert Hackler

Robert Hackler, age 73, of Lansing, Michigan passed away on Wednesday, November 16, 2022. Bob was born in Warren, Michigan June 9, 1949 to William and Virginia Hackler. While in high school, he was lead guitarist for a band called the Avantes. They played at school dances, weddings and various events. He loved all genres of music. After graduation in 1968, He enlisted in the US Navy to become a Hospital Corpsman. This included Marine Corps training at Camp Lejuene, NC. After graduating at the top of his class at Great Lakes Naval Academy, he was assigned to Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland where he worked as a surgical technician on wounded Vietnam soldiers. Additionally he worked on the Cardio/Thoracic wing where he assisted on many open heart procedures.

After serving 4 years active (4 years reserves), Bob came to Lansing, MI and attended MSU where he received his Master's Degree in English and his Bachelor's Degree in Behavioral Psychology. He then launched and taught the Surgical Technician Program at Lansing Community College. The program is still active to this day. He also worked as a surgical tech at all four Lansing hospitals. His next career was technical writing which took him all over the country on different assignments. He decided he really liked Lansing so he returned and took a position of Production Manager at Wyeth Labs in Mason, Michigan.

It was around this time that he met his wife, Ann, a newly single mother of a two year old girl, Maggie. In 1985 he and Ann married and in 1986, he joyfully adopted that little girl as his own. In 1987 his beautiful second daughter, Kelly was born. Bob also donated one of his kidneys to his older sister, Linda. This loving gift gave her several more years of healthy living. Bob's last job before retiring was working for the Dept of Defense. He was instrumental in gaining FDA approval for the military use of the Anthrax Vaccine. He retired in 2002. Bob spent the last 13 years of his life enjoying his four grandsons. He enjoyed teaching his grandsons many things and shared his love for music with them, especially the guitar. They flourished under his guidance and they developed a very close bond.

Bob will be forever and profoundly missed by all who loved him. His contributions to this world will live forever in all who were fortunate enough to know him.

Bob is survived by his wife, Ann; children, Maggie (John) Diemer and Kelly; grand children, Asher, Samuel, Daniel, and Joshua; and close friend, Lowell Swartz.

A memorial service for Bob will be held at Tiffany Funeral Home, 3232 W. Saginaw St. Lansing, MI 48917 on November 22, 2022 at 4:00 pm with a visitation starting at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the family or a charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.tiffanyfuneralhome.com for the Hackler family.