Dr. Daniel Hacking

I learned of my dear friend Dan Hacking's passing just today, more than one month since he died. I am so very sorry and so sad that I did not have the opportunity to tell him again how special a person he was to me. I met Dan my first year as a university professor at the University of South Dakota. Dan went out of his way to befriend this new professor and help him adjust to life in South Dakota. I arrived in South Dakota after three years living in Texas. But Texas was only my second home--I arrived in Vermillion firmly entrenched in my Philadelphia/New Jersey roots. Dan and I would laugh constantly about the funny way I spoke and my "east coast edge." While he was a great friend and colleague, Dan did one other special thing that changed my life forever. Dan introduced me to my wife Lisa, a Minnesota native who was working at the University of South Dakota and earning her master's degree. Dan knew from the beginning that Lisa and I would hit it off and, 25 years of marriage later and three children, we remain together. Thank you my friend from the bottom of my heart for being such an amazing friend. You will always hold a special place in my heart. I love you and your family deeply and I know that I have another angel in heaven looking down upon me. Your time on this earth was too short; however, your impact on the lives of so many people was so great.

Dear Kathy, Karman and Family,

It was such a surprise to read this news today. I'm so sorry! My memories of Dan was that he was an exceptional man of faith, loved his family, loved his country and church. It's been a long time since or paths crossed but I will never forget how genuine he was. May God make His present know to you during this most difficult time

Love send your way from Gilbert, AZ

My sincere sympathy Dan's family & friends. I knew Dan
thru his father Dick who I worked with at Job Service.
He was a talented & compassionate man who gave of himself to our country & was always outgoing & gracious to all those who knew him. May God bless his family. God
made a great man.

In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always. I am so happy to have served with Dan and his brother in the SD Air National Guard. Manny great memories.

I was shocked and saddened to see Dans picture in todays paper. I saw him just a few weeks ago at our high school class reunion after many years of not seeing each other. We had a nice, albeit short, visit. We had an awesome time in 1966-67 when he was the student team manager of our basketball team that went to the State BB Tournament as the first Catholic school ever. We served together in the SDANG and I was always proud that he rose in the ranks and became a unit spokesman. He was a mentor and a friend to one of my sons, who always spoke very highly of Dan while attending classes at SE Tech. I am so sorry to learn of his passing. He was a really god guy.

He was a person who cared about people. Big part of the Air Guard family. May he rest in peace.

I am very sorry to hear of Dans passing. He and his brother Dick were very good friends when I was in the Air Guard. My thoughts are with the Hacking family in the days to come.

Kathy, Karman and family,

We are so sorry for your loss. Please know you are in our thoughts prayers. May God comfort you during theses times. Dan was a marvelous person and grateful to call him friend, he will be missed.

Nate Dally