Byron I. Hawkins, age 81, of Eau Claire, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sept. 14, 2008, at the American Heritage Care Center in Hammond, Wis.
Byron was born on Nov. 17, 1926, in Highmore, S.D., to the late James and Virginia (Kelley) Hawkins. He attended Eau Claire Senior High School and UW-Madison, where he met his beloved wife, Mary Howard. The two were married on July 9, 1949, at the University Catholic Church in Madison. Byron was very proud to have served his country overseas in the U.S. Marine Corps. He earned several military medals, one of which was the Expert Rifle Badge, the highest award given for weapons qualification. Byron sincerely loved being a WW II veteran, speaking often of his time in the service and accounts of China in particular. Byron was engaged in numerous pursuits over the course of his lifetime. He especially enjoyed being a salesman, tracing missing heirs and working with foreign exchange students. The PAX Program of Academic Exchange, the organization for which he labored in love for many years, has graciously instituted The Hawkins Scholarship in honor of Byron and his wife, Mary. This annual endowment will enable one disadvantaged foreign student to attend the PAX School Year USA Program. Byron relished traveling, visiting his family and foreign friends, and was a master storyteller of these activities. Among his favorite tales to recount were those of his honeymoon and the first (and only) deer-hunting trip with his new wife. He also liked recalling adventures on the exchange student bus trips he had organized. Byron considered winning a Toastmasters' First Place Speech Trophy for Humor one of his most pleasing achievements. His narratives will not soon be forgotten! He will be missed by family and friends alike.
He is survived by his children: Mary (Rick) Miller of Madison.; James (Cynthia) Hawkins of West Palm Beach, Fla.; Timothy Hawkins of Accord, New York; Theresa (Manuel) Hagmann-Arriaga of Vista, Calif.; Charles (Shari) Hawkins of New Berlin; Byron (Jill) Hawkins of St. Louis Park, Minn.; and Santos (Sheri) Rodriguez of Altoona; grandchildren: Jeff, Michelle, Josh, Crystal, Jon, Sarah, Hannah, Mike, DJ, Nathan, Chris, Danny, David, Peter, Ashley, Paige and Morgan; great-grandchildren: Nicole, Christopher, Tyler, McKenna, Cameron, Jeremyah, Karson, Harmony, and Malakiah; brothers: Albert "Hap" (Carol), Wesley (Marian), Willis "Bill" (Jean), Robert "Steve" (Carole), and Donald (Susan) Hawkins; sisters: LaVonna Thompson and Gwendolyn "Teckla" Barneson; sisters-in-law: Bonnie and Gladys Hawkins, Dorothy "Dottie" and Helen Howard; brother-in-law: William "Bill" Howard; many nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Mary; son-in-law, Jim Hagmann; brothers: Joseph, James "Jimmy," Marvin "Cork," and Delmar Hawkins; brothers-in-law, John Thompson, Erwin "Erv" Barneson, and Charles Howard.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, at Word of Life Bible Church, 3732 Spooner Avenue in Altoona, with Pastors Kevin Schippers and Dan Adams officiating. Interment will be at a later date at the Trinity of Norden Cemetery in Mondovi.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Hope Gospel Mission and the American Heart Association, Midwest Affiliate, Go Red for Women.
Evergreen Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.
Byron was born on Nov. 17, 1926, in Highmore, S.D., to the late James and Virginia (Kelley) Hawkins. He attended Eau Claire Senior High School and UW-Madison, where he met his beloved wife, Mary Howard. The two were married on July 9, 1949, at the University Catholic Church in Madison. Byron was very proud to have served his country overseas in the U.S. Marine Corps. He earned several military medals, one of which was the Expert Rifle Badge, the highest award given for weapons qualification. Byron sincerely loved being a WW II veteran, speaking often of his time in the service and accounts of China in particular. Byron was engaged in numerous pursuits over the course of his lifetime. He especially enjoyed being a salesman, tracing missing heirs and working with foreign exchange students. The PAX Program of Academic Exchange, the organization for which he labored in love for many years, has graciously instituted The Hawkins Scholarship in honor of Byron and his wife, Mary. This annual endowment will enable one disadvantaged foreign student to attend the PAX School Year USA Program. Byron relished traveling, visiting his family and foreign friends, and was a master storyteller of these activities. Among his favorite tales to recount were those of his honeymoon and the first (and only) deer-hunting trip with his new wife. He also liked recalling adventures on the exchange student bus trips he had organized. Byron considered winning a Toastmasters' First Place Speech Trophy for Humor one of his most pleasing achievements. His narratives will not soon be forgotten! He will be missed by family and friends alike.
He is survived by his children: Mary (Rick) Miller of Madison.; James (Cynthia) Hawkins of West Palm Beach, Fla.; Timothy Hawkins of Accord, New York; Theresa (Manuel) Hagmann-Arriaga of Vista, Calif.; Charles (Shari) Hawkins of New Berlin; Byron (Jill) Hawkins of St. Louis Park, Minn.; and Santos (Sheri) Rodriguez of Altoona; grandchildren: Jeff, Michelle, Josh, Crystal, Jon, Sarah, Hannah, Mike, DJ, Nathan, Chris, Danny, David, Peter, Ashley, Paige and Morgan; great-grandchildren: Nicole, Christopher, Tyler, McKenna, Cameron, Jeremyah, Karson, Harmony, and Malakiah; brothers: Albert "Hap" (Carol), Wesley (Marian), Willis "Bill" (Jean), Robert "Steve" (Carole), and Donald (Susan) Hawkins; sisters: LaVonna Thompson and Gwendolyn "Teckla" Barneson; sisters-in-law: Bonnie and Gladys Hawkins, Dorothy "Dottie" and Helen Howard; brother-in-law: William "Bill" Howard; many nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Mary; son-in-law, Jim Hagmann; brothers: Joseph, James "Jimmy," Marvin "Cork," and Delmar Hawkins; brothers-in-law, John Thompson, Erwin "Erv" Barneson, and Charles Howard.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, at Word of Life Bible Church, 3732 Spooner Avenue in Altoona, with Pastors Kevin Schippers and Dan Adams officiating. Interment will be at a later date at the Trinity of Norden Cemetery in Mondovi.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Hope Gospel Mission and the American Heart Association, Midwest Affiliate, Go Red for Women.
Evergreen Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.
Byron I. Hawkins, age 81, of Eau Claire, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sept. 14, 2008, at the American Heritage Care Center in Hammond, Wis.
Byron was born on Nov. 17, 1926, in Highmore, S.D., to the late James and Virginia (Kelley) Hawkins. He attended Eau Claire Senior High School and UW-Madison, where he met his beloved wife, Mary Howard. The two were married on July 9, 1949, at the University Catholic Church in Madison. Byron was very proud to have served his country overseas in the U.S. Marine Corps. He earned several military medals, one of which was the Expert Rifle Badge, the highest award given for weapons qualification. Byron sincerely loved being a WW II veteran, speaking often of his time in the service and accounts of China in particular. Byron was engaged in numerous pursuits over the course of his lifetime. He especially enjoyed being a salesman, tracing missing heirs and working with foreign exchange students. The PAX Program of Academic Exchange, the organization for which he labored in love for many years, has graciously instituted The Hawkins Scholarship in honor of Byron and his wife, Mary. This annual endowment will enable one disadvantaged foreign student to attend the PAX School Year USA Program. Byron relished traveling, visiting his family and foreign friends, and was a master storyteller of these activities. Among his favorite tales to recount were those of his honeymoon and the first (and only) deer-hunting trip with his new wife. He also liked recalling adventures on the exchange student bus trips he had organized. Byron considered winning a Toastmasters' First Place Speech Trophy for Humor one of his most pleasing achievements. His narratives will not soon be forgotten! He will be missed by family and friends alike.
He is survived by his children: Mary (Rick) Miller of Madison.; James (Cynthia) Hawkins of West Palm Beach, Fla.; Timothy Hawkins of Accord, New York; Theresa (Manuel) Hagmann-Arriaga of Vista, Calif.; Charles (Shari) Hawkins of New Berlin; Byron (Jill) Hawkins of St. Louis Park, Minn.; and Santos (Sheri) Rodriguez of Altoona; grandchildren: Jeff, Michelle, Josh, Crystal, Jon, Sarah, Hannah, Mike, DJ, Nathan, Chris, Danny, David, Peter, Ashley, Paige and Morgan; great-grandchildren: Nicole, Christopher, Tyler, McKenna, Cameron, Jeremyah, Karson, Harmony, and Malakiah; brothers: Albert "Hap" (Carol), Wesley (Marian), Willis "Bill" (Jean), Robert "Steve" (Carole), and Donald (Susan) Hawkins; sisters: LaVonna Thompson and Gwendolyn "Teckla" Barneson; sisters-in-law: Bonnie and Gladys Hawkins, Dorothy "Dottie" and Helen Howard; brother-in-law: William "Bill" Howard; many nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Mary; son-in-law, Jim Hagmann; brothers: Joseph, James "Jimmy," Marvin "Cork," and Delmar Hawkins; brothers-in-law, John Thompson, Erwin "Erv" Barneson, and Charles Howard.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, at Word of Life Bible Church, 3732 Spooner Avenue in Altoona, with Pastors Kevin Schippers and Dan Adams officiating. Interment will be at a later date at the Trinity of Norden Cemetery in Mondovi.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Hope Gospel Mission and the American Heart Association, Midwest Affiliate, Go Red for Women.
Evergreen Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.
Byron was born on Nov. 17, 1926, in Highmore, S.D., to the late James and Virginia (Kelley) Hawkins. He attended Eau Claire Senior High School and UW-Madison, where he met his beloved wife, Mary Howard. The two were married on July 9, 1949, at the University Catholic Church in Madison. Byron was very proud to have served his country overseas in the U.S. Marine Corps. He earned several military medals, one of which was the Expert Rifle Badge, the highest award given for weapons qualification. Byron sincerely loved being a WW II veteran, speaking often of his time in the service and accounts of China in particular. Byron was engaged in numerous pursuits over the course of his lifetime. He especially enjoyed being a salesman, tracing missing heirs and working with foreign exchange students. The PAX Program of Academic Exchange, the organization for which he labored in love for many years, has graciously instituted The Hawkins Scholarship in honor of Byron and his wife, Mary. This annual endowment will enable one disadvantaged foreign student to attend the PAX School Year USA Program. Byron relished traveling, visiting his family and foreign friends, and was a master storyteller of these activities. Among his favorite tales to recount were those of his honeymoon and the first (and only) deer-hunting trip with his new wife. He also liked recalling adventures on the exchange student bus trips he had organized. Byron considered winning a Toastmasters' First Place Speech Trophy for Humor one of his most pleasing achievements. His narratives will not soon be forgotten! He will be missed by family and friends alike.
He is survived by his children: Mary (Rick) Miller of Madison.; James (Cynthia) Hawkins of West Palm Beach, Fla.; Timothy Hawkins of Accord, New York; Theresa (Manuel) Hagmann-Arriaga of Vista, Calif.; Charles (Shari) Hawkins of New Berlin; Byron (Jill) Hawkins of St. Louis Park, Minn.; and Santos (Sheri) Rodriguez of Altoona; grandchildren: Jeff, Michelle, Josh, Crystal, Jon, Sarah, Hannah, Mike, DJ, Nathan, Chris, Danny, David, Peter, Ashley, Paige and Morgan; great-grandchildren: Nicole, Christopher, Tyler, McKenna, Cameron, Jeremyah, Karson, Harmony, and Malakiah; brothers: Albert "Hap" (Carol), Wesley (Marian), Willis "Bill" (Jean), Robert "Steve" (Carole), and Donald (Susan) Hawkins; sisters: LaVonna Thompson and Gwendolyn "Teckla" Barneson; sisters-in-law: Bonnie and Gladys Hawkins, Dorothy "Dottie" and Helen Howard; brother-in-law: William "Bill" Howard; many nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Mary; son-in-law, Jim Hagmann; brothers: Joseph, James "Jimmy," Marvin "Cork," and Delmar Hawkins; brothers-in-law, John Thompson, Erwin "Erv" Barneson, and Charles Howard.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, at Word of Life Bible Church, 3732 Spooner Avenue in Altoona, with Pastors Kevin Schippers and Dan Adams officiating. Interment will be at a later date at the Trinity of Norden Cemetery in Mondovi.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Hope Gospel Mission and the American Heart Association, Midwest Affiliate, Go Red for Women.
Evergreen Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.
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