Jackie Gene Hanselman went to be with the Lord on April 26, 2024. He was born on March 28, 1952 to Joseph Louis Hanselman and Annie Mae Hanselman. Jackie was married to his wife Joyce Hanselman for almost 50 years.
Jackie was a man of honor, respect, and dignity within his community. After contracting polio as a child, he lived his life to the fullest with one arm. Never known to back down from a mechanic job as a tractor mechanic nor a math problem as a school teacher, he tackled anything life threw at him head-on. Jackie’s proudest moments included graduating from Texas A&M University in 1974, marrying his wife in the same year, starting a small business (Hanselman’s Welding and Repair), and seeing hundreds of his students graduating from Austwell-Tivoli High School.
Jackie was employed by Austwell-Tivoli High School for 30 plus years where he taught mathematics, science, oil and gas production, and even coached. His lessons in the classroom were not only on the subject of mathematics, but on the qualities, characteristics, and morals that make great human beings for society. He worked countless late night hours tutoring students and assisting with homework. He was proud to be a teacher that graded what the student deserved and never gave a point more than they earned. He was an intelligent, hard-working, inspirational man who touched the lives of many students.
Jackie’s summertimes were engulfed in being a project manager for the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge where he taught young workers how to build structures. He never missed an opportunity to build something so that he could teach his sons how to do things the “right way” and “The Hanselman Way”. He dreamed big for his sons and was a monument for the Hanselman family, sporting the 5J brand on his pickup truck. He and son, Jason, shared a small cow herd which served as a great therapy for him to “go check cows”. Jackie’s most memorable moments involved the outdoors. He loved hunting, especially with his three sons. He enjoyed fishing and was passionate about his large gardens and fruit trees. Upon retirement, his favorite moments were taking the grandkids to Dairy Queen after school for ice cream and challenging them about their report cards. Jackie proved to be an outstanding husband, father, and grandfather.
Jackie is preceded in death by his father, Joseph Hanselman and mother, Anne Hanselman. He is survived by his loving wife, Joyce Hanselman; three sons, Jason Hanselman (Brianna), Joshua Hanselman and Jared Hanselman (Robin); and siblings, Linda Williams (Richard), Danny Hanselman, and Lisa Anderson (Carl). He adored his seven grandchildren, Sarah, Jack, Samuel, Emily, Madison, Makayla and Morgan.
Visitation will be held Friday, May 3, 2024 from 5-7PM at Colonial Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 2PM at Tivoli Presbyterian Church, 208 Williams Street, with burial to follow at Tivoli Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers are Fred Biery, John Shipp, Gerad Lenhart, Pete Tompkins, Robert Aldridge and Mark Glover. Honorary pallbearers are John Tatton, Andrew Tatton, Stephen Tatton and Charles Tatton.
Contributions in Jackie's memory may be made to Tivoli Cemetery Association, PO BOX 329, Tivoli, Texas 77990.
Thoughts and memories may be shared at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com.
