Edwin A. Hastbacka, 72.

HOLDEN Edwin A. Hastbacka, 72, of 165 Highland St., died suddenly on Thursday, February 22, 2007 in Saint Vincent's Hospital, Worcester.

He leaves his wife of 48 years, Marcia S. (Dexter) Hastbacka; his son, Steven E. Hastbacka and his wife Sylvie of Hubbardston; his daughter, Kristin L. Courville and her husband James of Kingsport, TN; a brother, Albin Hastbacka of Amherst, NH; a sister, Mildred Hastbacka of Needham; four grandchildren, Samantha, Chelsea, Zachary and Maxine; several nephews and lots of friends around Holden. He was born in Pieksamaki, Finland, son of Anton M. and Anna (Karp) Hastbacka, and lived in Gardner before moving to Holden 43 years ago. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War serving in the 28th Weather Squadron as a weather observer.

Mr. Hastbacka received his B.S.Ed. in 1961 from Fitchburg State College and his Ed.M in 1964 from Worcester State College. His career in the mental health industry spanned 29 years. He was Assistant Superintendent at the Glavin Regional Center, Shrewsbury, retiring in 1990. Previously he was Director of the Worcester Area Occupational Training Center, Worcester, and Director, Dept. of Mental Health for the Commonwealth of Mass. at Rutland Heights Mental Health Rehabilitation Center.

The funeral service for Mr. Hastbacka will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 28, in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. Burial will be private in the Massachusetts Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon. Family and friends are invited to calling hours from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27, in the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701; or the Muscular Dystrophy Assoc. of NE, 33 Lyman St., Suite 30B, Westboro, MA 01581.

www.milesfuneralhome.com

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