Michael Bruce Hackenberger
November 22, 1944 – October 25, 2012


mikeBorn in Fort Worth, TX, and pre-deceased by parents Samuel Hackenberger (Aug 26, 2012) and Nancy Barton (2005), Michael passed away from complications of cancer related to Agent Orange which he encountered in Vietnam.

Mike enlisted in the Navy at age 17 and proudly served his country during the Vietnam War as a radio officer. Mike was able to further his youth ham radio hobby skills into a lifelong career in radio communications and PC expertise, acquiring certification in many Microsoft applications. Upon joining the Navy in 1962, his first assignment was aboard the USS Kitty Hawk. His family loved to see it arrive in port and Mike would proudly tour them around the ship. After his discharge in 1968, he was certified to work aboard Merchant ships, often as the sole civilian. These experiences allowed him to embrace all cultures; Mike became a true world citizen, a confirmed bachelor with a wondering spirit. No one can retrace the threads of his adventures, playing guitar in Mexico, Salsa dancing in Puerto Rico, meditating atop a mountain at a Buddhist retreat, and exploring additional trades such as carpentry and crab pot weaving.

Spending time on Chebeague Island meant so much to him; he loved Deer Point and spending time at the Bounty Pub and later the Chebeague Island Inn. He settled into the Pacific Northwest, eventually calling Edmonds WA his home. Mike was a lifelong learner on a continual spiritual quest. Everyone was drawn to his unique sense of humor and his graciousness. He pursued his love of language and music, becoming fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and French. Mike had the gift of sharing colorful stories, voiced quick-witted puns, and pulled many shameless pranks. He spent many years with his parents and sisters in Maine and WA, loving the ocean on both coasts. We will toast Mike with his favorite drink, Irish coffee, his friends are now safe to remove the locks on their liquor cabinets!

Mike leaves behind his siblings Jim Hackenberger and wife Rosemary, San Marcos, CA, Jean Cummings and husband Bob, Sequim, WA, Nancy Vachon and husband Jim, Portland, ME, special favorite nephews Jeff Putnam and wife Beth, Chebeague Island ME, Jeremy Putnam Portland ME, special favorite niece Ruthie Putnam Carson CA, great nephews Cole, Gage and Nathan Putnam, great niece Alyssa Gomez, sister Ruthie Noble and Chuck McCatherin, Falmouth, ME, cousins Beryl Lord, Edmonds WA, Beth Hailey, La Conner, WA, Barbara and Bob MacLean, Bellevue, WA, Heather Lingbloom & son Andrew, Edmonds, WA, niece Maya Romero husband Carlos, nephew Olav Berg, Burlington, WA. He also leaves many other nieces and nephews as well as great nieces and nephews as well as and friends around the world.

A Non-traditional celebration of life will be October 28 at his cousin Heather’s home in Edmonds WA where we will plan to put the fun in funeral! Mike will surely be missed by all who knew him, we are glad our dad never knew Mike would be following him to heaven so soon!

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