Dale R. Hackbarth

Dale R. Hackbarth joined a band of angels who love him deeply on December 6, 2023.
Dale was born October 30, 1949 in Green Bay, WI to proud loving parents, the late Robert & Elaine Hackbarth.
Dale graduated in 1968 from Green Bay East High School with the status of valedictorian and was well remembered by every teacher his little sister, Lori, shared with him 11 years later.
Following his high school graduation Dale attended Valparaiso University. After a couple years of hard work, he became very ill with hepatitis, which he overcame, and helped change his trajectory into a new career path.
In 1970 he took the step to move to Chicago, where he worked for a while in the lab at Alberto Culver. Later on an opportunity with Lansing B. Warner Insurance fell upon him, where he worked very hard to become a Certified Property and Casualty Underwriter. He was highly respected in his job and also helped to develop computer programs there back in the day when computers were larger than we are. He was later employed by Zurich Insurance and was featured on the cover of Underwriter Magazine in his time there. Following his 25 year anniversary of employment, there was a restructuring of Zurick worldwide. During that time Dale retired with a golden parachute.
Dale met David Locey in December of 1977. In recalling their meeting, David said, "Just a few weeks before Christmas Debra Mcfall (who became one of our closest friends) and myself were having drinks at Mike's Terrace Lounge after work. Later that evening while at the bar this very handsome guy who was wearing a green corduroy jacket with a fake fur collar and shaggy hair that hung down over his collar, sat down next to me. When I glanced over to my side, my first thought was, "Wow!" After Debbie left I decided to introduce myself to this guy who in turn introduced himself as Dale. There was an instant connection. At the end of the night, I knew he was the one for me. That was the best decision I ever made. It was the beginning of a 46 year adventurous life and meaningful partnership."
Dale and David FINALLY married on October 26, 2013, surrounded by family and friends at the home of Gary and Rina Sands in Minneapolis, and took great joy in their union after 36 years of the faithful love they shared together. Just a few days later gay marriage was legalized in Illinois. Two years later the Supreme Court made the historic ruling to legalize gay marriage throughout the United States. Dale and David stood together, side by side, for 10 married years, making a total of 46 years together.
For 30 years Dale suffered from pancreatitis that eventually went into the early stages of cancer.
Dale suffered from and survived an AVM surgery in July 2015 shortly following the death of his nephew and mother, and another extensive Whipple surgery in 2017. Shortly after that he was diagnosed with diabetes, and then Parkinson's disease and dementia, but he never gave up.
Dale and David always enjoyed their holiday trips to spend time with their families, and especially the Christmases spent at the home of Bob and Amy Massey and their family that always culminated at the notorious "Bob's Bar", where anything could happen.... And it did!
Dale loved to travel, and because of David's job with Swissôtel and Resorts they were able to travel throughout Europe and Asia. One of Dale's favorites was Türkiye. They loved the Southwestern area of the U.S. Especially, Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM and Sedona, AZ.
Many cats were an important part of Dale's life and he will be missed by his current cats, Cooper and Sam.
Dale was a remarkably loving and loyal husband, brother, uncle, and friend who judged no one and loved life and everyone in it.
Dale will be sadly and greatly missed by his husband, David Locey, his sisters, Judy (Bill) Burkel, Tarrie (Mark) Ronk, Lori (Andy) Brooks; sister-in-law, Christine (Daniel) Willson; brothers-in-law Timothy (former wife, Carol Lynne) Locey, Thomas (Cindy) Locey; Godchildren, James (Linda) Hackbarth and Alison Roberts; many nieces and nephews who adored him; long-time friends, including Debra Mcfall, James Cline and husband, Paul Schultz, Randy Snyder, Joseph Villalona and husband, Benjamin Molina, James Schmitt, Julie Aiman and husband Gary Spangler, June Aiman, Stuart Hassell and husband, Ron Porras, William and Kathy Schnurr, Lynn Peters, and Sevtap Güvener. A special shout out to the Sands family who never judged and always showed unconditional love.
Dale was truly loved by many and his kindness and loyalty was appreciated by everyone who ever crossed his path.
Dale was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Elaine Hackbarth; in-laws, James and Patricia Locey; nephew, Adam Roberts; uncles, Herman Hackbarth and David Sands, and several very dear friends including William Kilar, John Cook, Mary Sue Warner-Smith, and Philip Carey.
If Dale ever taught any of us anything, it was "Fight for what's right." He was an example of a good human to everyone who crossed his path. We truly believe he left us knowing he was loved. The social media posts and memories of last conversations are evidence that he made a wonderful impression on everyone he ever knew. A life well lived!
A celebration of Dale's life will be planned at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Dale should be made to Human Rights Campaign (for the LGBTQI+ community), The Parkinson's Foundation, or The American Diabetes Association.