1st Sergeant John P. Hackler, 83, of Fitzgerald, GA entered into rest at his residence on Thursday, July 1, 2010.
Funeral services will be held at 2 PM, Sunday, July 4, 2010 at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald with Dr. Mike Ruffin officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery with full military honors. The family will receive friends from 7-9 Saturday evening at the funeral home.
Sgt Hackler was born December 2, 1926 in Black Star, Kentucky to the late John L. and Mary Alice Estes Hackler. He was a graduate of Benham High School in Harlan County, Kentucky. Sgt. Hackler moved to Fitzgerald in 1998 from Hawaii and was a former resident of Columbus, GA and San Antonio, TX. He served 27 years in the U.S. Army where he was awarded 3 bronze stars, 3 purple hearts and other medals and decorations. Sgt Hackler entered the service in 1944 and retired in 1971. He served during WWII, Korea and Vietnam. 17 of his 27 years were spent in foreign duty. Sgt Hackler was an avid golfer and pool player. He was a member of the Ft. Benning Lodge # 579 Free and Accepted Masons, the Al Sihah Shrine and was a Red Cross disaster trainer and worker. Sgt Hackler was a member and usher of the First Baptist Church in Fitzgerald.
Sgt Hackler is survived by his wife of 32 years: Carolyn Dorminy Hackler of Fitzgerald; stepson & daughter-in-law: Glenn & Kim Turner of Meridian, MS; grandchildren: Christopher Turner of Jackson, MS and Jennifer Turner of Meridian, MS; sisters: Lois Orick of Hildebran, NC and Helen (Ira) Hartley of Jefferson City, TN; brother: Jerry (Faye) Hackler of Jefferson City, TN; brother-in-law: Gene (Sis) Dorminy of Fitzgerald and a number of loving nieces and nephews. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by 1 brother and 2 sisters.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 367, Fitzgerald, GA 31750 or to Blue-Gray Community Hospice, P.O. Box 1447, Fitzgerald, GA 31750.