Lucie Hakk

Lucie Hakk (100) of Moorhead, MN died quietly at home on January 9, 2020.  Lucie was born in Valga, Estonia on September 12, 1919, the only child of Jaan and Selma Kasak.  She was confirmed in the Lutheran church, graduated from high school, and then moved to Tallinn, Estonia to work at the Latvian embassy.  In the midst of World War II, and unable to convince her parents to join her, she and three friends left everything behind to avoid the Russian army’s advance.  The four traveled thru Poland, Czechoslovakia, and eventually to the Alps of Germany, and there survived the remainder of the war.  During the next 5 years Lucie and her friends were in a relocation camp, and all were allowed to emigrate to America in 1950.  Lucie spoke no English upon arrival, but learned the language after reading the book “Gone With the Wind”.  She was originally sponsored by a family in Chicago to come to America and serve as their nanny, but soon joined two of her refugee friends in Philadelphia to work with them in a nursing home.  A few years later, through mutual Estonian friends, she met August Hakk.  On July 23, 1955 they were married in Fargo, ND, made their home in Moorhead, and had three children.  Lucie became a homemaker and poured her life into her children and home.  Her two great loves in life, besides her family, were animals and working in her garden. She often took in animals that needed a loving home.  The starlings, squirrels, raccoons, deer, turkeys and even foxes that she fed in her neighborhood are undoubtedly sad at the passing of such a friend of wildlife.  Her flower gardens were the equal of any on a city garden tour, but she would never want that sort of attention.  Anyone who spent time with her would remark how much interest she showed in their lives and how well she could recall things mentioned in earlier conversations.  Lucie was a generous giver and made all birthdays and each Christmas an occasion to look forward to.  She often sacrificed her own pleasures so that others could fulfill their dreams.  It was important for her to give biblical training to her children and she prayed for them daily.  Her family and friends were so blessed to have had her in their lives all these years, and we will miss her dearly.

Lucie was preceded in death by her husband, August.  She is survived by her three children: Heldur (Kathy) Hakk, Indra Willers, and Alar (Rebecca) Hakk, all of Moorhead.  Grandchildren through Heldur include Peter (Shanda) Hakk of Moorhead; Rachael (Clay) Lexen of Moorhead; Nathan (Amber) Hakk of Audubon, MN; and Rebekah (Ian) Zimmerman of Hazen, ND.  Grandchildren through Indra include Michael (Kelley) Willers of Moorhead; Matthew Willers with the US Army in Germany; Daniel (Lauren) Willers of San Antonio, TX.  Grandchildren through Alar include Brian Hakk of Golden Valley, MN and Allison (Storm) Green of Moorhead.  Through these unions Lucie was also blessed with 7 great-grandchildren which will soon become nine.

The funeral will be at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Moorhead, on Sunday, January 19^th at 2:00 pm.  A meal will be served following the service.