ALBANY—Christian Louis Hacker, 67, better known as Lou Hacker, of Valatie died April 9, 2015 at the Samuel Stratton Veterans Administration Hospital, “leaving behind a hell of a lot of stuff his wife and daughter have no idea what to do with.

“So, if you’re looking for car parts for a Toyota, BMW, Triumph, Dodge or Ford between the years of about 1953 and 2013, or maybe half a dozen circular saws, still in their boxes with the Home Depot receipts attached, you should wait the appropriate amount of time and get in touch.”

But this is not an ad for a used parts store; this is an obituary for a great man, generous landlord, committed husband and adoring father.
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Famous for saying, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure,” as well as his habitual presence at local garage sales and flea markets, there wasn’t a part, tool, piece of furniture or sports equipment he wouldn’t dig up for a neighbor, family member or tenant in need. So though his family is a little angry about the heaps of “junk” he’s left behind for them to deal with, the stacks of lawnmowers, the wrench sets in Christmas wrapping, the carcass of a 1972 BMW rotting in the backyard, it helps to remember the place of generosity from which these piles of stuff have accumulated. Because Mr. Hacker wasn’t so much stocking up for what he might need for himself, but for what others might need. Those needs filled his heart, mind and an entire basement.
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Car parts sales and funeral services will be held Saturday, April 18, 11:30 a.m.