From storage to classic: The story behind a Gibson guitar, family and a 75th birthday

Many fond memories were made strumming the strings of an old 1960s Gibson guitar.

A lasting bond is a cherished memory for those who experienced the brotherly relationship between Tom and Richard (Dick) Hakes.

Dick Hakes was a writer and journalist — and continues to write regular columns for the Press-Citizen — while his brother, Tom, led a drastically different life.

“(Dick writes) not just as a profession but as a hobby,” Dick’s sister-in-law, Kathy Hakes said.

Kathy remembers Dick Hakes loving writing so much that he sometimes wrote and drew things just to mess with his brother.

“He even used to write ridiculous letters to his brother, calling him names and making up stories (and) drawing funny cartoons and pictures,” Kathy said.

Tom Hakes and his wife Kathy met through Greek life in college. Later, Tom worked as an operator of an M & J.R. Hakes location, a family-owned grocery that once had stores in Iowa and other midwest states.

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A musical bond

The Hakes brothers traveled down different paths as life carried on, but they continued to connect through music. Tom wielded his guitar and Dick sometimes joined him on the strings or accompanied his Gibson with the piano. He even occasionally took the microphone to sing “Christmas in Reform School.”

“I think he always looked up to his big brother and they had a very close relationship,” Kathy Hakes said.

Dick Hakes was five years younger than Tom.

Tom Hakes would strum the guitar and sing songs alongside his brother at holiday gatherings, making memories that Dick’s son, Tony, said have lasted a lifetime.

“My cousins and I all have really fond memories,” Tony Hakes said. “They were best friends, but they also were constantly giving each other a hard time, trolling each other all the time, and we would just sit around and watch the two of them berate each other for hours.”

Strengthened through pain

Tom Hakes was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2010.

The two had always been close, and brain cancer — with a bad prognosis, Kathy recalled — changed nothing.

Dick Hakes is also the youngest of four. Their father battled multiple sclerosis, and Dick spent many hours caring for his father throughout childhood.

“He would always be the first one to help help take care of people,” Tony Hakes said.

This was no different. Dick helped his sister-in-law, Kathy Hakes, get a break from her passionate caregiving and assisted Tom as well.

Sometimes, the two would even leave the house and hit the casino.

Tom Hakes battled cancer for 18 months. A major, intensive brain surgery changed him, at least outwardly. His family knew that the real Tom was still in there.

Tom was only 67 when he died in 2011. Dick strummed the Gibson for his brother by his bedside the night he died.

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A closet in Okoboji

Years after his brother’s death, Dick Hakes wondered aloud to his son where that old guitar had gone.

Kathy Hakes lives more than four hours away from Iowa City, on the banks of West Okoboji Lake. Tom and Dick would often hop on their sailboat, Scarlett, and float around the lake, blasting Kenny Rogers off tape decks.

Inside the home, that now 60-plus-year-old, battered Gibson was collecting dust in a closet.

Tony Hakes had the same question that burned in his father’s mind and dialed up his aunt. Kathy plucked the classic instrument from a closet where it sat for more than a decade.

A 1960s Gibson LG-0 model guitar can sell for thousands of dollars once cleaned up.

The memories the Hakes brothers made with their guitar remain priceless.

On a trip to Nashville, Tony Hakes took the Gibson to a vintage guitar shop. After consulting with Kathy, they both decided it wasn’t worth giving up the memories.

The discovery was kept secret from Dick as his 75th birthday approached. In the meantime, Tony had the guitar restored, waiting for the right moment.

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A birthday surprise

Family and friends gathered at Dick and Joan Hakes’ house in mid-February for Dick’s 75th birthday celebration.

Tony had restored Gibson packed away in his trunk.

Despite more than six decades of wear and tear, the LG-0 was back in perfect condition and propped up in Dick and Joan’s living room with loads of family around. Their daughter joined on FaceTime from Japan, where it was the early morning.

When Dick Hakes emerged, he produced a flurry of emotions: surprise, shock and happiness.

He wanted to play a few songs and no one objected, inviting Tony to play alongside him, like he once did with Tom.

Dick Hakes eventually allowed himself a moment to take in the gravity of the gift. Tony said it felt like his dad was "taking a solemn moment and reflecting on his life, his family and his brother."

Christmas in Reform School.

Silly notes and letters.

Sailboats on Okoboji.

That fall night by Tom’s bedside.

Those memories brought back by a strum of the guitar.

Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: P-C columnist is gifted brother's Gibson guitar on his 75th birthday