A hard-working, steel-willed man in search of the American dream sailed into New York harbor on the morning of November 14, 1953. For Hans Hanke, those were decidedly uncharted waters, but his work ethic and dedication to family and country led the way for a proud career as a tool & die maker, or as his grandson called him — Factory Man. Decades later, he would become my father-in-law.
Hans Adolf Hanke was born on September 28, 1928 and died less than two weeks after his birthday 88 years later, a birthday which he was forced to celebrate at Lakeland Healthcare in St. Joseph when cancer returned to his body in recent weeks. Reality is, however, he died at Hanson Hospice Center on Cleveland Avenue Saturday afternoon, October 8th of essentially a broken heart. He had lost his wife of 65 years, Vi Hanke, in June and the 110 days they were apart were simply more than he could bear.
Hans was born in Nestomitz, a district of Aussig in the Czech Republic known at that time as Sudetendeutschland, the youngest of seven children, and was guided to America by his brother-in-law Fritz Scherler, whose wife Friedchen had an uncle who was living in St. Joseph at the time.
Having attended skilled trades training in Germany to gain entry into the tool & die industry, Hans found work first at Industrial Rubber Goods, and later with Whirlpool Corporation. When he grew tired and fearful of worker strikes at the appliance maker, Hans landed a new job at Bendix on Red Arrow Highway in St. Joseph, forerunner to today's Bosch Braking Systems, a decades long career from which he retired in 1991. He was a prolific tool maker with an incredible work ethic and great pride in America, having flown the stars and stripes from his porch every day of his life on American soil. His story was chronicled by his grandson Eric Hanke, a recording artist whose song Factory Man the title song of his album of the same name.
Hans was a lifelong Cubs fan, an avid golfer, a World Cup Soccer aficionado, and a true ladies man whenever the opportunity arose at a wedding reception, birthday party, or other occasion where live dancing was allowed or encouraged. He frequently ran into former colleagues while shopping, dining, or elsewhere in the community and would often invoke the greeting, "Hello, Mr. Bendix," when recognizing a face, but failing to recall a name.
Hans & Vi were certified regulars at the St. Joseph Municipal Band Concerts at the John E.N. Howard Band Shell in St. Joseph, rarely missing a concert over several decades as was duly noted in last week's obituary for Ben Mammina who routinely shared a bleacher seat with them at show time.
Hans was preceded in death by his parents, five of his six siblings, a brother in law Fritz Scherler and nephew Klaus Scherler, of Spokane, Washington, and beloved pets Sandy and Kelsey. He leaves behind his son Mike (Sherron) Hanke of Fort Worth, Texas, his daughter Carol (Pat) Moody of St. Joseph, Michigan, grandsons Eric Hanke of Austin, Texas and Matthew Hanke of Richardson, Texas, step-granddaughter Patricia (Shawn) Brown of Sammanish, Washington, step-grandsons Matthew Perez from Norman, Oklahoma, Sean (Jennifer) Perez from Dallas, Texas, Jason (Emily) Moody of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Peter Moody of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, step-greatgrandsons Sterling and Tyson Brown of Sammanish, Washington, sister-in-law Freida Scherler of Spokane, Washington, and his very special furry friend Chuck who followed him everywhere.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Starks & Menchinger Funeral Services of St. Joseph. Cremation has taken place. Visitation with family members will take place at 10am on Wednesday, October 12, 2016 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel at 2650 Niles Road in St. Joseph, followed by services at 11am. Private interment will take place with family later that day at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph.
In lieu of flowers, family members ask that donations be considered to the Humane Society of Southwest Michigan, Animal Aid of SW Michigan, or St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Benton Harbor.
For sixty-five years Hans & Vi Hanke were virtually inseparable on this planet. What God joined together in May of 1951 was never remotely asunder until the Lord called her home this summer. In the final moments of her life on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 they pledged to one another to reunite in heaven. They accomplished that task on a crispy, sunny Saturday afternoon this weekend.
A pledge to reunite in heaven has been fulfilled…
