Willibald Hackl,
March 27th, 1936 – September 29th, 2023
Celebration of Life for Willibald Hackl
We invite you to join our family as we remember and celebrate the life of Willi Hackl, who passed away Sept. 29th, 2023. Celebration to be held on May 18th from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm in the Sunset Room at the Best Western. Interment of ashes will be held prior to the celebration at the Dryden Cemetery at 12:00 pm. We hope you can join us in sharing a funny story, favourite memory, a light snack and a toast with Willi’s favourite schnapps!
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: http://www.drydenfoodbank.org/donate.html
The family of Willibald Hackl are saddened to announce his passing on September 29th, 2023 in Mississauga, Ontario. Fondly known as Willi, he will be deeply missed by his surviving family: daughter, Eileen Hackl (Bryan Challis), son Garry Alden Hackl (Heather Howse), daughter-in-law Shelly Hackl and nephew Wayne Langanki. He was a calming presence in the lives of his grandchildren, Chad (Toronto), Ben and Alexa (Dryden), Emily, Willi, Noah and Ryan (Mississauga) who will miss their Opa. In Austria, he is survived by his brother Adolf Hackl (Augustina). He leaves numerous nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, both in Canada and Austria.
Willi was predeceased by his wife, Viola Hackl in 2008, son Sheldon Hackl in 2018, daughter Katherine Hackl in 1972 and nephew Roger Langanki in 2017. As well as, his parents Ludwig and Anna Hackl, brothers Ludwig Hackl and Helmut Hackl, and sister Frieda Serejch, all of Austria.
Willi was born in Moschendorf, Austria on March 27th, 1936. He emigrated to Canada as a young man at the tender age of 17 in search of work after his home country continued to suffer the ravages of the Second World War. He recounted many memories of living through a war and how it impacted his family and his community which fueled his desire to carve out a life for himself in a new world.
When Willi arrived in Canada, he was employed as a farm hand for a few years, then hired by a construction company in Hamilton, Ontario. This began his lifelong career as a carpenter and eventually the development of W. Hackl Construction, a permanent fixture in Dryden, Ontario, for over 40 years. Willi met his wife Viola in Elliot Lake and that began a fun-filled marriage of 50 years. They eventually moved to Airport Road in Dryden, Ontario, where they built their family home and raised four children together. As life unfolded, Dad spent 10 years living with Sheldon’s family in Dryden and his last 5 years living in Southern Ontario with Eileen and Alden’s families.
Willi worked hard all his life and took great pleasure in building and constructing all over Northwestern Ontario. He often recounted his experiences to his family and friends. Many friendships evolved from his construction work and his involvement with St. John’s Anglican Church in Wabigoon, Ontario, as a volunteer, carpenter and warden. When Willi took time away from work, he enjoyed going fishing, following Viola to visit family in Southern Ontario, many trips back to Austria, and of course snoozing in his recliner! He never lost his love of traditional Austrian music, lovingly referred to as Oom-pah-pah by his family and friends. Willi’s dance card was always full at family functions and Edelweiss events. Dad will always be remembered for his schnitzel feasts, fish fry’s and his fondness of anything sweet. Never one to let a win slip away from him, his card playing strategies may have been called cheating by others at the table, but they were inevitably revealed by the twinkle in his eye and impish grin. Willi’s kind and gentle spirit will be missed by many. Ruhe in Frieden Dad!
Willi will be remembered by family and friends at a memorial to be held in Port Credit, Ontario, with a second memorial and internment of his ashes that will be held in Dryden, Ontario in the spring of next year.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: http://www.drydenfoodbank.org/donate.html or https://chats.on.ca/donate/
Online condolences may be sent to Hacklfamily15@gmail.com
