Daniel Paul Hackbarth

Daniel Paul Hackbarth, age 68, of Appleton, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on October 18, 2025. Dan was born on October 31, 1956, in Appleton, where he spent most of his life surrounded by family and friends.

Dan is survived by his brother, Steven Hackbarth (fiancée Sherry); his sons, Tyler Hackbarth (wife Ellen) and Troy Hackbarth (fiancée Kate); and his beloved grandchildren, Landon, Audrina, and Weston Hackbarth. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar and Helen (Rudloff) Hackbarth, and his son, Travis Hackbarth.

Dan dedicated nearly 30 years of his life to his career as a machine operator at Appleton Papers, where he took great pride in his work and the friendships he made. Outside of work, Dan had a deep appreciation for the simple joys in life. He loved to travel, especially to destinations known for their whiskey and bourbon—visiting places like the Jack Daniel’s Distillery brought him special happiness.

Dan also had a lifelong admiration for bald eagles and found peace in watching them soar. Another of his great passions was cars, especially Ford Mustangs. He loved spending summer days behind the wheel of his Mustang, enjoying the open road and the freedom it brought him.

After retiring about 15 years ago due to Parkinson’s disease, Dan faced his illness with remarkable strength, positivity, and grace. His resilience and good humor were an inspiration to everyone who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Parkinson.org in Dan’s memory, to support Parkinson’s research and help find a cure.

Dan will be deeply missed but lovingly remembered for his warm heart, easy smile, and unwavering optimism.