ELDON DUANE HAKES “PEE WEE”

ELDON DUANE HAKES “PEE WEE”

Eldon Duane Hakes “Pee Wee,” born to Harold and Florence Hakes Aug. 25, 1943, in Black River Falls, WI, passed away Tuesday Dec. 30, 2025, at the spry young age of 82.

Pee Wee grew up in Shady Glen, York and Beloit.

Eldon joined the United States Air Force in 1961 and served for 22 years. His Air Force adventure took him to North Dakota, Delaware, Georgia, Newfoundland, Canada and then back to Georgia. After his military retirement, he worked as a civilian at Robins Air Force Base. Upon his second  retirement, Pee Wee moved back to York, WI, reconnecting with many old friends and making many a new.

In York, Pee Wee could be found working the land for his daughter-in-law, Emily’s, garden, hunting the deer and getting into general mischief and if you ever witnessed him hit a golf ball, work on machinery or build something with his son, you may have heard his famous moniker “Gosh Darn it.”

While being known for being the quiet type who always had a smirk on his face, those who were lucky to know him well knew that he wasn’t always quiet. He was having fun no matter what he had planned and always “had so much to do.” His love of spending time with his son, Dennis “Georgia,” consisted of talking smart on the golf course all summer long with a few… or several gosh darn its or sitting in the deer shack they built together trying to figure out when the deer would come out and who would get the lucky shot. Many of the gosh darn its came out when helping Dennis build on the Huskelhus flats and the stories those walls could tell…

Pee Wee was also known for spending extra time with his beloved grand-dogs, Bella and Stella. Pee Wee “Pop Pop” would visit daily and never had a shortage of treats in his pocket.  If someone says “Pop Pop,” Stella will forever be looking for Pee Wee.

Eldon Duane Hakes is survived by his son, Dennis Hakes of York; daughter-in-law Emily Brown of York; his brother Harland Hakes of York; and extended family throughout Wisconsin.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Maynard Hakes of Beloit; and sister, Marilyn Hakes of Afton.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

The Jensen-Modjeski Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements, 715-963-2311.