Gerald Eugene Hackett, the son of Wayne and Mattie (Anderson) Hackett was born October 22, 1928 at Oakland, IA and died April 17, 2015 at the Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, IA, at the age of 86 years, 5 months, and 26 days.


Gerald attended country school and then graduated from Oakland High School with the class of 1946. After graduating, he farmed near Oakland for several years. He was united in marriage to Lorraine Hanley, and they continued to farm near Oakland before moving to Colorado. Gerald worked at a Dairy and then for Colorado Serum. Gerald and Lorraine moved back to Oakland and Gerald worked at Phillips 66, Iowa Breeders, and Standard Station, before going to work for the city of Oakland. While employed for the city, he was instrumental in getting the water plant running. He retired in 1993. Gerald continued to stay active by doing woodworking.


Gerald was a member of the Oakland United Methodist Church. He had served on the Oakland Fire and Rescue for many years. He had been a Cub Scout and Boy Scout Leader. He loved taking family vacations, playing cribbage, and visiting with his coffee shop buddies.


He is preceded in death by his Parents; his sister Ruby Mae Potter; his father-in-law and mother-in-law Loyal and Elsie Hanley; four brothers-in-law; one sister-in-law; two nieces; one nephew; and many coffee drinking friends.


He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Lorraine of Oakland; his daughter, Geralynne Cohrs and husband Kenneth of Underwood; his sons: Gary Hackett and wife Arlene, Larry Hackett and wife Wendy, Dan Hackett and wife Janice, Tom Hackett and wife Lori, and Tim Hackett and wife Jody, all of Oakland.; twelve grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren; his sisters, Jessie Shiffer of Oakland and Marlene Clark of Atlantic; and his brother Dean Hackett and wife Shirley of Syracuse, NE. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.


Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at 10:30 AM at the Oakland United Methodist Church in Oakland. Visitation with the family will be on Monday evening at the Oakland United Methodist Church from 5-7:30 PM. Interment will be in the Oaklawn Cemetery. Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland is in charge of arrangements.