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Jerome H. Hanke, 87

Dec 16, 2012

Jerome H. Hanke

Blue Earth Jerome H. Hanke, age 87, of Blue Earth, died Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, at United Hospital, Blue Earth.

Memorial Services were held on Dec. 14, 2012, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Blue Earth. The Rev. Wesley Hafner officiated. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery, Blue Earth. Patton Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Blue Earth assisted the family with the arrangements.

Jerome was born Jan. 23, 1925, in Blue Earth, the son of George and Mabel (Skogen) Hanke. He was raised and educated in Blue Earth where he graduated from Blue Earth High School in 1943. He entered the U.S. Army on June 14, 1943, where he became a Staff Seargant stationed in the Philippines. He returned to Blue Earth following his discharge on Jan. 13, 1946. He was married to Ruth A. Boettcher on Oct. 9, 1946, in Blue Earth. Jerome worked construction before he began working as a lineman for Blue Earth Light and Water. He also served as a volunteer fireman at this time. He began farming in 1956 and continued until 1986 when he joined Ruth in running Hanke’s Crafts. Jerome was a member of the Blue Earth VFW Post 4580 and American Legion Post 89. He was also a longtime member of St. Paul Lutheran Church where he was active as an usher and church elder. He also enjoyed building doll houses and miniature furniture for them, golfing, wood carving and a good jig-saw-puzzle.

Jerome is survived by his wife, Ruth Hanke, of Blue Earth; sons, Bruce (Ronda) Hanke, of Blue Earth, and Brent (Sheila) Hanke, of Des Moines, Iowa; son-in-law, David Nelson, of Hayward, Wis.; brother, Gerald (Evelyn) Hanke, of Blue Earth; sisters, Elaine Weiderholt, of Blue Earth, and Millie Nesbit, of Blue Earth; six grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. He was looking forward to the arrival of his seventh grandchild this spring.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Linda Nelson; sisters, Alice Mae Erdmann and Marilyn Meyering; and brothers-in-law, Dick Nesbit and Ted Weiderholt.

Memorial donations are preferred to Moonlight Lane at St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center or St. Paul Lutheran Church.

Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.com