Father Thomas Joseph Hack, age 89, entered into eternal life on Tuesday, June 4. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on Dec. 9, 1929, the son of Herbert and Catherine Hack. He is survived by a sister, Mary Jane and brothers, Paul (Patricia) and Joseph, all of Cincinnati.
After attending St. John the Evangelist Elementary School and Purcell High School, he attended St. Gregory’s Preparatory and Mount St. Mary’s seminaries in Cincinnati. On May 28, 1955, he was ordained a priest by Most Reverend Karl J. Alter, D.D. at St. Monica Catholic Church in Cincinnati.
Father Hack served the parishes of Holy Rosary in St. Mary, Ohio; St. Catherine of Siena in Columbus; St. Joseph in Manistee, Michigan; St. Jean in Muskegon, Michigan. He was incardinated on July 22, 1968 in the Diocese of Grand Rapids from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. From 1968 until 2001, he served as administrator and pastor of parishes throughout the diocese including in Byron Center, Sand Lake, Free Soil, Scottville, Ludington and Muskegon, and as dean of the (then) Ludington Deanery. He served for a time as general manager of the diocesan newspaper, The Western Michigan Catholic. In 1979, he studied for three months at North American College in Rome. In 2001, Father Hack was placed on disability status and retired in 2003. Since then, he has served in sacramental ministry at St. Michael Parish in Remus and has been a priest in residence/sacramental ministry at St. Edward in Lake Odessa and St. Anthony in Saranac. In 2005, he resided at Saint John Paul II Clergy House at St. Isidore of Grand Rapids, and, in 2018, moved to St. Ann’s Home in Grand Rapids.
Funeral arrangements for Father Hack are as follows:
- Visitation:
Friday, June 7, 7 – 9 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 8 p.m.
St. Isidore Catholic Church
628 Diamond Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 - Mass of Christian Burial:
Saturday, June 8, 11 a.m.
St. Isidore Catholic Church (address above) with Bishop David Walkowiak presiding and Monsignor Edward Hankiewicz homilist. A reception will follow in the St. Isidore Parish Life Center - Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Cincinnati
Eternal rest grant to Father Hack, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
