Obituary of Paul HACKMAN

Paul R. Hackman, 81, passed away on June 28, 2005 in Lake Havasu City, AZ. He was born on February 2, 1924 in the small town of Lititz, Lancaster County, PA.Paul moved to Lake Havasu City, AZ; 2 years ago from Yorba Linda, CA. He proudly served in the U.S.Army WWII. He was self employed as a car dealer in Southern California for 50 years. Paul was the son of German, Pennsylvania Dutch Immigrants. He was the youngest of 13 children, born in Pine Hill, Pennsylvania. Paul was truly a product of the Great Depression. As was common in those hard times, he was sent to live with caregivers at an early age and as a result, his formal education ended at the eight grade. In spite of the hardships of those times, Paul maintained contact with family and proudly enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 19, serving from 1943 until 1946, earning at least 7 medals, including acknowledgement for the Battle of the Bulge. Discharged a Corporal, he made his way to Southern California, via the mean streets of Chicago. Paul soon realized he had an aptitude for the booming automobile business and went to work for H.B. Brubaker, a well known Studebaker dealer and early distributor for the Bluebird autos from Japan, later to become Datsun and ultimately Nissan. At the turn of the baby boomer decade (50's) Paul met Frances Berardini, the daughter of Italian Immigrants, who had made her way to Los Angeles from Rochester, NJ. The union ultimately produced four children; Wayne, Gary, Karen and Paul Robert (Robbie). In spite of a limited education, Paul managed to provide a fruitful and joyful life for his family. All four of his children, ironically, went on to be successful in the automotive business, which made Paul extremely proud. Paul is survived by his sons, Wayne Paul Hackman of Lake Havasu City, AZ; Gary Lee Michael Hackman of Yorba Linda, CA; Paul Robert (Robbie) Hackman of Redondo Beach, CA; daughter Karen Ann Buttacavoli of Yorba Linda, CA; sister Ann Strickler of Lititz, PA; and 12 grandchildren. Paul was preceded in death by his wife Frances in 1975. His legacy is the respect family and acquaintances have for himFuneral services will be held Friday, July 22, 2005 at 1:30 PM at Yorba Linda Friends Church on the Hill, 5211 Lakeview Ave., Yorba Linda, CA.Family request donations be made in Paul's name to the charity of your choice.Condolences may be made to his family a www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.comArrangements were entrusted to Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory.