Joan "Granny" Hackbarth

Joan "Granny" Hackbarth, 81, of Ridgeway, MN died Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at Gundersen Health Systems in La Crosse. Joan was born June 15, 1936 in Black River Falls, WI to Robert and Pearl (Nuszloch) Babcock. Her family moved to Pickwick where she spent most of her childhood. She attended the Pickwick school and Winona Senior High. She met Arden Hackbarth on a blind date. They were true sole mate and when Arden returned from the military in 1954, they decided to get married on June 4, 1955. They farmed together until they bought Hackbarth Feed Mill. The Mill burned in 1970 and with the help of the Ridgeway Community and Family they rebuilt the Hackbarth Feed Store. Commited to their community, together they ran the business for 32 years. Joan and Arden shared a love of motorcycling and snowmobiling with friends. Joan loved her four children and all of there friends. When Joan became a grandma for the first time, she became known as "Granny" to everyone who knew her. Granny's door was always open.

Joan is survived by her children, Becky Watkowski, Jean (Steve) Halvorson, Robert "Bud" (Kim) Hackbarth, Todd "Charlie" (Tami) Hackbarth; grandchildren, Chad, Nikki, Sam, Andy, Lindsey, Ethan, Casey, Cody, Jessi, Angie, Stef, and Branda; 17 great-grandchildren; siblings, Marion "Toots" (Ken) Nelson, Robert Jerry (Carolyn) Babcock; siblings-in-law, Alice (Roger) Hackbarth, Ardell Kunst, Roger Neitzke, John Hackbarth, Marilyn Hackbarth. She us preceded in death by her loving husband, Arden; sister, Kay Neitzke; brother-in-law, Robert Kunst.

A visitation will be held 4-7 PM, Sunday, December 10 at Hoff Celebration of Life Center, Goodview. The funeral service will be held at 11 AM, Monday, December 11 with visitation one hour prior at Cedar Valley Lutheran Church. Interment at Bush Cemetery, Ridgeway. Please view her tribute video and leave a memory of Granny at hofffuneral.com