Lawrence A. "Hank" Hanke, 81, of Eau Claire died Wednesday, March 10, 2004 at Sacred Heart Hospital. He was born July 9, 1922 in Wheaton Township, Chippewa County, the son of Rudolph and Karen (Larson) Hanke. He graduated from Eau Claire Senior High School with the class of 1941. In high school he played on the football team and later was a manager for the team after an injury from an auto accident. Hank attended many technical training schools including Eau Claire Vocational School. \r\nHe enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II in 1942, serving in Alaska as an Air Transportation Technician until his honorable discharge in 1945.\r\nHank married L. Marie Neubauer on October 14, 1947 in Eau Claire at Olivet Evangelical Church. Their daughter Terrie was born in 1951.\r\nHe returned to his job at White Machine Works following World War II. He worked at Biens Cameron Street and North Side Shell services stations, later owned and operated North Side Shell service station, drove for Goetz Oil Co., and worked at Eau Claire City Parks as the Parks Maintenance Supervisor from February 1967 until his retirement in 1986.\r\nHank was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church and Eau Claire Moose Lodge #1408. He had been a member of Olivet Evangelical, Grace Lutheran and then Hope Lutheran Church where he served on the Board of Deacons.\r\nHe enjoyed building his home and remodeling their cabin at Moose Ear Lake near Chetek where he loved to fish. Hank liked the challenge of crossword puzzles and laughed often with his cat, Simon and grand cats, Koko, Sam and Blue Jeans. He was an avid fan of the North High girl's basketball and golf teams. \r\nSurvivors include his wife, Marie; daughter, Terrie of Eau Claire; brother, Carl Hanke (friend, Marge Flitch) of Prairie du Chien, WI; and four nephews, Ron, Gary (Judith) , Mark (Ellaine) and Steve (Kathy) Hanke; five nieces, Judy (Dennis) Edwardsen, Joyce (Robert) Belkola, Becky (Michael) Rice, Sue (David) Welter and Vicki (Ricky) Powell; his four godchildren are Douglas (Ann) Larson, Barbara (David) Chung, Judy Edwardsen and Anne Beauchamp.\r\nHe was preceded in death by his parents; and three brothers, Raymond, Marvin and Norman.\r\nA Celebration of his life will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 13, 2004 at St. John's Lutheran Church with Pastor Howard Fehr officiating. Burial will be in Rest Haven Cemetery, Town of Washington where American Legion Post #53 will conduct military Graveside rites. Family and friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home and one hour prior to services Saturday at the church.\r\n

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