Laura Hack

Laura Jean Rankine Hack was born on July 19, 1931, and died peacefully on April 21, 2017, following a stroke six months earlier from which she never recovered. A memorial service will be held on June 10 at Kaul Funeral Home in Clinton Township. The family will receive visitors at 10:30 am, and the Memorial Service will begin at 12:30 pm.

A fierce and determined woman, Laura was born and raised in Detroit. She married the love of her life, John Richard Hack, in 1951. Her experience growing up with a mild disability motivated her and John to adopt a child who was deaf, who became a cherished addition to their own brood of four well-loved young children. While her children were still small, Laura found the strength and time to go back to school and earn a bachelor's degree in education, later earning her Master's degree.

Laura was one of the innovative teachers who in 1971 helped opened DeKeyser Elementary, an experimental, open floor plan school. She pioneered successful team teaching and mixed age classrooms, and made a difference in the lives of hundreds of students. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, amateur bowler, bird watcher, avid gardener, bookworm, adventurer, doting grandmother, and dog lover.

She lived in Sterling Heights for over 57 years. She was predeceased by her husband, John, her daughter Jeanne, granddaughter Crystal, brother Renton and sister Marion. She is survived by her brother Alexander “Sandy” Rankine and sister, Annetta Swope; by children Alan (Linda), Brenda Vanderweil, Lauri (Mike) Wroebels and John (Mary Beth Walsh); by grandchildren Michelle Flarity, Robert Wright, Renton Wright, Christopher Hack, Alex Hack, Nathanial Hack, Abraham Hack, Stacey Futris, Roberta Vanderweil, Michael Futris, Sean Hack and Benedict Hack; and seven great-grand children.

Donations in lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions may be made in Laura's memory to REED Academy, a school for children with Autism in Oakland, NJ: www.classy.org/checkout/donation?eid=70541