Gena Hackney

Gena Hackney ObituaryGena Hackney of Deephaven passed from this life into the eternal presence of God on October 3, 2025 at age 79 after a long battle with cancer.
Gena was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio as the oldest of three siblings. She spent her childhood summers in Frankfort, MI near Crystal Lake and Lake Michigan. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati and married Ross Hackney, also from Cincinnati, at age 21.
In 1978, she and her family moved from Cincinnati to Minnesota after hearing about the beautiful lakes and quality of life. Shortly thereafter, the most important turning point in her life occurred when a new friend explained God's plan of salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Gena believed the gospel, and God faithfully grew and sustained her for the remainder of her life, through good times and difficult, including a painful divorce when her children were in their early teens. She was never remarried.
Gena was a homemaker who was devoted to and delighted in spending time with her two children, Josh and Brodie, along with her five grandchildren. She cherished her neighbors and conversing with them on daily walks with her dog. Her Bible was well-worn from daily readings and her radio often played Christian sermons and hymns.
Gena enjoyed giving, perhaps a book with a handwritten note she thought would be helpful for a friend, or funds to aid a ministry. One of her heroes was George Mueller, who relied solely on earnest prayer rather than financial appeals in operating his large orphanage in England in the 1800s. Another of her heroes was the great London preacher Charles Spurgeon from the same century-she read his devotional books regularly.
We grieve the loss of Gena, our beloved mother and grandmother, but we rejoice that she is now in the presence of her Lord and Savior. Jesus promised, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26). Gena did believe this and she had a heart that others would as well.
Gena is survived by her sister Kristen Earls (Lowe), her son Josh Hackney (Elizabeth), her daughter Brodie Wheaton (David), and her grandchildren Peter, Catherine, Caroline and Grace Hackney, and Tommy Wheaton. Family members who preceded her in death include her parents, Bruce and Jane Lowe (nee Shepard) and her brother Frederick Lowe.
A private family internment will be held at Groveland Cemetery. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Grace Church Chapel 9301 Eden Prairie Rd, Eden Prairie, MN on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 3 p.m. followed by a reception
Gena Hackney of Deephaven passed from this life into the eternal presence of God on October 3, 2025 at age 79 after a long battle with cancer.
Gena was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio as the oldest of three siblings. She spent her childhood summers in Frankfort, MI near Crystal Lake and Lake Michigan. She graduated from the