Joseph Hackman

Joseph "Joe" Hackman, 79, of West Des Moines, Iowa passed away peacefully on January 20, 2026, at MercyOne Hospital in Des Moines.

Joe was born on Tuesday, December 3,1946, to Hellen (Carlo) and Leon Hackman in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York. His brother Richard was born in 1952.

Joe loved growing up in Brookly, New York. He lived on 37-3rd Street in Red Hook (now Carroll Gardens). Joe was very close with his family. His mom, Hellen, had five sisters so Joe had five uncles and a lot of cousins. Joe also had many friends. His best friend while growing up was Salvatore (Sal) DiMeglio, whom he met in middle school.

Joe met Barbara McGrath from South Bronx, New York, on March 1, 1965. It was their first day of work at Social Security in Manhattan, New York. It was love at first sight for Joe. When he found out Barbara was 19 years old, he told her that he was 19, too. He was actually 18 years old but worried Barbara wouldn't date him if he was younger than her. It took seven months, but Joe finally asked Barbara out. Their first date was on October 17, 1965, at Radio City Music Hall in NYC. Two years later Joe proposed to Barbara at Junior's Restaurant in Brooklyn, New York. They got married on Saturday, June 29, 1968, at Sacred Hearts and Saint Stephen Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn. After getting married, Joe and Barbara moved to Queens, New York.

In 1971, their daughter, Lisa Marie, was born and their second daughter, Joanne Denise, was born in 1972.

Joe loved people and never met a stranger. He considered everyone he met as family. Joe loved to laugh and would always try to make everyone else laugh too. Unfortunately, not all of his jokes were funny and some were inappropriate. Joe thought he was funny and called himself "The Joe Show".

While working at Social Security, Joe was on a bowling league at Whitestone Lanes in Queens with his friend, Karl Klatt. Their team's name was "Up Yours". One year they came in last place and the next year they won first place. He and Barbara also liked to hang out and play Backgammon with Herman Perez and his wife Sandy.

In 1981, Joe and Barbara became foster parents to Barbara's niece and nephew, Jennifer and Danny for two years. In 2005, Joe and Barbara again became foster parents to Barbara's niece, Laura's daughter, Allyssa, for two years.

In 1983, Joe left Social Security and started working at the U.S. Postal Service. He was very proud to be a U.S. Postal worker. He started as a mail carrier and window clerk and later was in charge of the P.O. Box section, where he was known as "The Box Mail King" in Elmont, Long Island, NY. He loved all his co-workers at Elmont P.O. and would share stories with the family about them when he came home. Joe retired from the USPS in 2003.

In 2007, Joe and Barbara moved to Iowa to be closer to their granddaughters, Gianina "Nina" (born 2003) and Isabella "Bella" (born 2006). They loved spending time with Nina and Bella at the pools at PointeWest Apartments on Pleasant Street in West Des Moines. Since Joe grew up in a neighborhood with actual mafia members in it, his daughter gave him the softer nickname of "Joey Noodles" because he would always have a collection of pool noodles and water toys for the girls to play with.

In his spare time, Joe liked to watch tennis, bowling, boxing, MMA, Olympic figure skating, and playing backgammon and cards. He also loved listening to music such as Santana, Cat Stevens, Bob Seger and Teddy Pendergrass. He attended concerts with Joanne and a few with Lisa including Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Skid Row, Great White, Poison, Extreme, and Warrant. He was even the oldest guy at some venues like the Ritz Club in Manhattan that had mosh pits, listening to bands like L.A. Guns, Dangerous Toys and Tora! Tora! Tora! He was truly young at heart and liked to have fun.

Joe was also affectionately known as "Weather Man Joe" because he truly loved watching the weather channel. It was his obsession.

Joe's family would like to thank staff at Harmony Nursing Home, Ketra, Natalie (who Joe nick named "Number One"), LaDonna, Frank, Eli, Michael, Yvette, Chelsea, Cassidy, the Cynthias, Kay, Sondra, Kevin, Anna Jane, James, K.C., Rufus and many others.

A huge, heartfelt thank you to those who helped Joe at Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines and the residents who became his friends (you know who you are). The loving staff including Mike, Eric (Chaplain), Jasmine, Mary, Laura, Lexie, Talia, Carmen, Anthony, Dario, Milla, Sue, and others.

Lastly, all the staff at MercyOne Hospital who took great care of Joe in his last weeks, Donovan, Diamon, Younis, Allison, Fatima, Dilma and the two nurses in ICU, Dalton and Spencer.

Joe was preceded in death by his mother, Hellen; father, Leon; and brother, Richard.

A short memorial service for Joe will be held at Memorial Services of Iowa in Ankeny (4208 N. Ankeny Blvd.) on Friday, January 30, 2026, at 2:00 pm.

There will be a gathering from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm following the service at Nonna's (1802 N. Ankeny Blvd., Ste 100A), a nearby New York Style Pizza restaurant.

The family would love to see those who want to pay their respects as well as all who knew and loved Joe. They hope you'll share your stories and memories of him with everyone. Any clothing or hat that is New York related, a Rock Band T-shirt, or has a funny saying on it, is more than encouraged!

Psalm 46:10

"Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth"

Irish Blessing - May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.