Jerome H. Hanke

Jerome H. Hanke, age 87, of Blue Earth, died Sunday, December 09, 2012, at United Hospital, Blue Earth. Memorial services will be held on Friday, December 14, 2012, at 11:00 AM, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Blue Earth, with Rev. Wesley Hafner officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Blue Earth. Visitation time will be one hour prior to service at the church. Patton Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Blue Earth is assisting the family with the arrangements. Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.com. Memorial donation are preferred to Moonlight Lane at St. Luke''s Lutheran Care Center of St. Paul Lutheran Church.Jerome was born January 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 in1943. He entered the U.S. Army on June 14, 1943 where he became a Staff Seargant stationed in the Phillipines. He returned to Blue Earth following his discharge on January 13, 1946. He was married to Ruth A. Boettcher on October 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, his son, Bruce (Ronda) Hanke of Blue Earth, his son, Brent (Sheila) Hanke of Des Moines, Iowa, his son in law, David Nelson of Hayward, Wisconsin, his brother, Gerald (Evelyn) Hanke of Blue Earth, his sister, Elaine Weiderholt of Blue Earth, his sister, Millie Nesbit of Blue Earth, his six grandchildren and fourteen 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 & Marilyn Meyering and brothers-in-law, Dick Nesbit and Ted Weiderholt.