Sister Phyllis Hackman

Sister Phyllis Ann Hackman, Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, 95, died on Saturday, May 12, 2018, at Villa St. Joseph, La Crosse, Wisconsin. She was in the seventieth year of her religious profession. Friends may call after 3:15 p.m. on Monday, May 21, 2018 at St. Rose Convent. in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. A prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m. that evening in Mary of the Angels Chapel. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 22, at 10 a.m. in the chapel. Burial will 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, at Our Lady of Seven Dolors in Festina, Iowa with time of fellowship to follow in the Parish Hall. Local arrangements have been entrusted with Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton. 641-394-4334 Memorials may be sent to Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, 912 Market Street, La Crosse, WI 54601-4782. Born on Easter Monday, April 2, 1923, on a farm five miles south of Festina, Iowa, Agatha Hackman was the daughter of Edward and Anna (Schmitt) Hackman. Beginning at age six, Agatha attended St. Mary’s School, Festina. During summers she helped her aunt and uncle, and sometimes grandparents and friends, with housecleaning, painting, butchering, moving or when someone was ill, until she was 17. When Agatha was 18, her father died and she was needed to help at home. Agatha spent vacation time traveling and seeing places in Iowa. About four months before entering St. Rose Convent, Agatha took a job at St. Joseph’s Home, La Crosse. She was undecided about entering the convent until the morning she left home, January 20, 1946. Agatha was received into the novitiate on August 12, 1946 and was given the name Sister Phyllis Ann. She made first profession of vows on August 12, 1948 and final vows on August 9, 1954. Beginning her active ministry as a homemaker, Sister Phyllis Ann served her sisters in convent homes in Guam, Idaho, Utah, Wisconsin and Washington. Sister Phyllis Ann earned a bachelor’s degree from Viterbo College (University) in dietetics, with a minor in home economics. After earning her dietetics degree, she became a dietary supervisor at Milbank, SD and Hillsboro, Wis. Sister Phyllis Ann felt called to serve in the pastoral care ministry and became a clinical pastoral educator. She eventually became certified as a chaplain. From 1980-1993, Sister Phyllis Ann was employed as a chaplain at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Belleville, Ill. Her last nine years of active ministry were at St. Joseph’s Parish, New Hampton, Iowa, serving as pastoral associate. While serving in New Hampton, she started a food pantry and also worked in hospice. She retired to St. Rose Convent in 2002. She moved to Villa St. Joseph in 2017. Community members, family and friends will remember Sister Phyllis Ann as someone who enjoyed being around people and helping them. Family and friends were an integral part of her life. While she was in Belleville, she not only served in pastoral care at the hospital, but was active in St. Luke’s Parish and volunteered at hospice during her free time. Sister Phyllis Ann learned how to play guitar and would play and sing gospel music at nursing homes. She had a courageous spirit that led her to explore any adventurous opportunity that presented itself. Sister Phyllis Ann is survived by her religious community; two sisters: Lucille Kruse, Ossian, Iowa and Phyllis (Duane) Einwalter, Fort Atkinson; two brothers: Paul (Betty) Hackman, Calmar, Iowa and Norbert (Mary) Hackman, Fort Atkinson and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother Othmar and his wife Florence Hackman; sisters, Irene and Wesley Shatek, Rita and Joe Shatek, Sister Marcella Hackman, FSPA; brother in law, Art Kruse; sister in law, Elnore Hackman and several nephews.