John Hastie

John Hebard Hastie, age 82, of Darlington, Wisconsin, passed away on May 23, 2026. Born on March 13, 1944, in Evanston, Illinois, he was the son of John Robert Hastie III. and Gwendolyn Mary (Harper) Hastie.

John was raised in Evanston and attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois. He began his studies at Southern Illinois University before enlisting in the United States Army in 1967. Serving honorably until 1973, he worked in Army counterintelligence and as a Special Agent in Germany and Vietnam, achieving the rank of Sergeant. After military service, he returned to Southern Illinois University and earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science.

Following graduation, John’s career spanned multiple fields including printing sales, security management, home remodeling, and computer software programming. He notably served as computer tech manager at BHCP, network manager for the American Bar Association, and senior systems field engineer with Compaq Computer. In 1999, John and his wife Judy relocated to Darlington, Wisconsin, where he worked as a network administrator at UW Platteville until his retirement. Throughout his life, he was passionate about sailing, woodworking, photography, motorcycles, driving, and playing the guitar.

John married Judy on September 21, 1974, in Crystal Lake, Illinois. He was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church in Darlington for many years and was active with the Darlington American Legion Post 214.

He is survived by his wife Judy Hastie; his children, John Hastie of Darlington, Wisconsin, and Anne Janette Hastie of New Jersey; his sister, Susan (Joseph) Mencel; and his nephew Steve (Beth) Mencel. John was preceded in death by his parents and a niece, Kelly Mencel.

John’s life of dedication, service, and craftsmanship leaves a lasting legacy in the hearts of his family and community.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday June 2, 2026, at 11:00AM at the First Baptist Church in Darlington (15691 County Road K, Darlington, WI 53530) with Rev. Nick McElrath officiating. A visitation will be held on Monday June 1, 2026, from 5:00PM - 7:00PM at the First Baptist Church in Darlington and on Tuesday prior to the funeral from 10:00AM until time of service. The Erickson Funeral Home in Darlington is serving the family. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers and plants a memorial fund has been established in John's name.