Dear Colleagues,
I write to share the sad news that our friend and colleague Mike Hackenberg has passed away.
A 16-year member of the facilities team, Mike worked as a utilities technician. He was a certified pool operator with primary responsibility for the maintenance of Kinney Natatorium. Mike also served as a welder, rebuilt and maintained pumps on campus, and maintained the campus steam/condensate systems. His facilities coworkers recall Mike as a skilled craftsman who took pride in his work and found creative solutions for any problem that arose. For some, Mike was simply “a force of nature.”
Friends describe Mike as extremely generous and always eager to help with a project, as it seemed there was nothing he couldn’t fix or build. He was always happy to share his culinary creations or the harvest from his gardens, and was a presence at the Bucknell Farm, where so many benefitted from his work and dedication.
Mike was a friend to many faculty and staff and will be deeply missed. You may also know his wife, Amber, who is a caretaker in the animal behavior lab. We offer Amber and her family our heartfelt condolences for their loss. The full obituary as provided by the family appears below.
I encourage you to visit our In Memoriam site to share your personal notes of sympathy and remembrance. Please keep Mike’s family, friends and colleagues in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
My best,
John
Michael Douglas Hackenberg, 52, of 203 Blyler Lane, Millmont, entered into rest at 5:32 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021, at Evangelical Community Hospital, Lewisburg.
He was born Dec. 11, 1968, in Lewisburg, a son of Harold G. and Norma Ann (Catherman) Hackenberg, of Millmont. On May 13, 2000, at the swinging bridge in Weikert, he married the former Amber R. Blyler, who survives.
Mike was a 1986 graduate of Mifflinburg Area High School.
He was employed at Bucknell University, in HVAC, for 16 years.
Mike faithfully attended the West End Bible Fellowship, Millmont.
He was a member of the Little Buffalo Lodge, The Ponderosa, Millmont.
Mike enjoyed smoking cheese and meats, making wine, and making soups at the Mifflinburg Christkindl Market, and especially enjoyed traveling with his family and friends to Montana to hunt and fly fish.
Surviving in addition to his parents, and wife of 21 years, are three sons, Michael Ryan Hackenberg of Mifflinburg, Evan Joshua Hackenberg of Millmont, and Logan Fiske Hackenberg of Millmont; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Crystal R. and Steve Starks of Millmont, and Glenda Sheesley of Mifflinburg; one brother and sister-in-law, Andrew and Michele Hackenberg of Millmont; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews; and the best group of friends.
Family and friends are welcome to a Celebration of Life at 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, at the Hartley Township Recreation Center, 49 Ballpark Road, Millmont, officiated by Pastor Richard DeVett, followed by a time of fellowship.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to West End Bible Fellowship, PO Box 36, Laurelton, PA 17835.