Wells, Maine --- Joseph G. Hakanson, 88, of Flintlock Village, died peacefully April 4, 2019 at Durgin Pines in Kittery with his children and friends at his side.

Joe was born on December 13, 1930, the son of Gustav and Augusta (Nilsson) Hakanson of Malden, Mass. His mother died shortly after birth and Joe was cared for by his aunt, Anna Nilsson Maurer, for four years in Southern New Hampshire and then raised by his father and beloved stepmother Emma Bachman Hakanson in Malden, MA.

He graduated from Malden High School, Malden, MA in 1949, graduated from Babson College in 1956 with a B.S. in Business Administration with High Distinction, and received a graduate diploma from Rutgers University, Stonier School of Banking in 1968.

He served in the U.S Army after high school and often attributed valuable lessons learned in the military to his future success in college and business.

Joe retired from Advest, Inc., Portland, ME, as Senior Vice President for Investments where he enjoyed being a stockbroker and mentor for almost forty years. Previously he was President of Northeast Bank of Westbrook (Westbrook Trust Co.), Westbrook, ME and in 1970 was the youngest bank president in Maine at the age of 39. In 1957 Joe began his distinguished professional career with the Canal National Bank, Portland, ME, leaving as Vice President for Investment Research.

Joe used his communication and financial skills to serve many community organizations, non-profits, and businesses including: former city auditor for the City of Westbrook; former trustee for the Warren Memorial Library; past president of the Portland Chapter of the American Institute of Banking; fund raiser for the United Way of Portland; past president of the Portland Club; former member of the Portland Chamber of Commerce; former director and past president of the Portland YMCA; past district governor and local club president of Toastmasters' International; member of the Board of Regents of Luther Bible College, Teaneck, NJ; former trustee of Nasson College, Springvale, ME; former trustee of the Osteopathic Hospital of Maine; former corporator of Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME; former chairman of the Investment Committee for the Bible Society of Maine, Scarborough, ME; former member of Board of Managers for the American Bible Society, New York, NY; member of the Committee to Study the Retirement System of the State of Maine; former director of the Federal Loan & Building Association, Portland, ME; former director of Northeast Bankshares, Lewiston, ME; former director of American Colonial Insurance Co., Portland, ME; former director of Northeast Insurance Co., Portland, ME; former director & chairman of the board of Christian Mutual Insurance Co., Concord, NH; and former member of the University of Maine Foundation. Joe was a member of the several professional associations including the Association for Investment Management and Research and the Boston Security Analysts Society.

Joe was honored to be appointed by Governor Jim Longley and reappointed by Governor Joe Brennan to serve as a trustee for the University of Maine System from 1978 -1990. He was elected twice to serve as chairman of the board and was proud when the University of Maine System made history as one of the first ten universities in the country to completely divest from South Africa to fight apartheid.

Joe was a volunteer firefighter in West Falmouth, ME and a member of the Canal Bank softball team with a reputation as the best third baseman. As a kid and teen, Joe played baseball in local athletic leagues and church leagues in Malden, MA where he met many good friends for life and developed a love for baseball and especially for the Boston Red Sox. As an adult he picked up tennis and could be found on courts in Falmouth, ME, Ocean Park, ME and in St Petersburg, FL with life long tennis buddies.

The church community was important to Joe. He grew up in the faith at First Lutheran Church in Malden, MA and continued to be active at Emmaus Lutheran Church, Falmouth, ME, Trinity Lutheran Church, Westbrook, ME and Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Kennebunk, ME. Joe volunteered as a confirmation teacher, a Bethel Bible Series teacher, a church council member, and church auditor.

Joe was actively involved in non-denominational religious camps called Camps Farthest Out (CFO). Joe attended and held leadership positions at several camps a year with his family from 1967-2018 including Acadia CFO in Southwest Harbor, ME, North Florida CFO in several Florida locations, Nova Scotia CFO, and Winni CFO at Geneva Point Center, Center Harbor, NH.

Joe became active in presidential politics when he became the Maine co-chairman of the Jimmy Carter for President Campaign in the mid 1970's with his business partner Charlie Harriman. Joe and his wife Natalie hosted Carter family members in their home as the Carters campaigned in New England and hosted events introducing Jimmy Carter to Maine and New Hampshire.

In his later years Joe was an active participant and supporter of Calumet Lutheran Ministries in Freedom, NH and Lutheran Outdoor Ministries. Joe and Natalie participated in many retreats at Camp Calumet, attended worship in the summers in the Outdoor Chapel, participated in Family Camp activities, served on the Board of Directors, and often dropped by for breakfast and lunch in the Conference Center.

Joe was a man who loved his family. He built igloos in the winter and took his kids tobogganing, once building a toboggan run in his yard and through the neighbor's yard and installing elaborate lights for nighttime sledding fun. He is remembered as a great joke teller and storyteller especially at his children's bedtimes. When his teenaged son began glider and airplane flight lessons, Joe decided also to take flight lessons earning a pilot's license. Joe eventually owned a plane and loved flying with friends, his wife Natalie (who also became a pilot), and his son Paul. He supported his daughter Judy's church music career and followed her to many churches to hear her play the organ or piano and more recently was her number one supporter as a worship leader in various CFO camps and at Camp Calumet. But most of all Joe loved his role as "Grampy". He taught his three grandchildren to play cards, to appreciate Snoopy, and to love the Red Sox and the Patriots.

Joe was known to jump in his car and drive all over northern New England in order to clear his head and think. Often he picked up friends and family for impromptu lunches on the road. He enjoyed daily crossword puzzles, cryptograms, and jumbles in the newspaper. He played bridge twice a week with good friends and community clubs. And he enjoyed his membership at the Cumberland Club in Portland, ME where Joe was recently made an emeritus member.

Joe is predeceased by his wife, Natalie. He is survived by his daughter Judy Hakanson Smith (Brent) of Freedom, NH; his son Paul Hakanson of Norway, ME; his granddaughter Shannon Smith Page (Andrew), his grandson Grant Alan Smith, and his granddaughter Lillian Adelaide Hakanson.

Although he was an only child, Joe grew up with extended family and friends. Recently deceased first cousins, Marshall Soderblom and Charles Maurer, Jr., were like older brothers to Joe. His close Malden childhood friendships continued throughout his life including the Toothaker, Lindquist, and Peterson families. His church and CFO friends were at his bedside during his last days including Pastor Rich Horner, Bob and Betty Kreie, Jan Marshall, Carol Powers, and Jonathan Roakes.

There will be no calling hours. A private graveside service will be held this spring in Ocean View Cemetery in Wells, ME. A public Celebration of Life will be held at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kennebunk, ME on Saturday, May 18 ^th at 11am.

Contributions in Joe's memory may be made to Calumet Lutheran Ministries, PO Box 236, West Ossipee, NH or to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 2 Lord Street, Kennebunk, ME 04043.

The family wishes to express their profound gratitude to the entire staff of Durgin Pines in Kittery, ME for their loving care and support shown to Joe, his family and friends and to the York Hospital Hospice staff for their recent daily visits with Joe.

Care of the Hakanson family has been entrusted to the J. S. Pelkey and Son Funeral Home, 125 Old Post Road, Kittery, ME.