Rafik Tawfik Hanna

Rafik was born in Cairo, Egypt on February 20, 1961. He Graduated from Ain Shams University in Cairo with a double major in chemistry and botany. He later moved to Knoxville to join family here. While working on his master’s degree at the University of Tennessee he met the love of his life, Miwako Takeno, and started his family.

He opened Hanna’s in 1994 and expanded his business successfully, opening many different establishments. He joked that his hobby was drinking and smoking, so he might as well make a career out of it. More importantly he started a charity in honor of his late son, Mark Hanna, who passed away in 2013. Mark’s Hope aided many, and those that helped and were helped by this charity said that he didn’t just donate money, he was hands-on and touched many with his deeds. This was his proudest achievement.

Everyone that knew Rafik would say that he was a kind, generous, and hard-working man who was always willing and ready to help anyone in need. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He was a loving husband and the best father anyone could have asked for. He had enough room in his heart to love and care for everyone. He was considered a second father, and a brother by many who knew him.

Rafik was full of life. He was the heart of any party, always making sure everyone was having a good time. He was the best dancer in the family and would drag everyone onto the dance floor. He was known for having strong opinions and loved to “discuss” them. Even when things got heated and everyone disagreed with him he never wavered in his beliefs. He had the strongest faith in God’s plan and tried to always live as he thought God would want him too. He was never a blind follower and continued to read the Bible and learn more about his faith. He believed in the power of prayer and always put God first in his life. He inspired many with his strong faith, and was always ready to share his beliefs if he thought it would help.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Tawfik Hanna and Sophie Gouda, and his son Mark Hanna.

He is survived by his wife Miwako Takeno, and their two children Joseph Hanna and Maria Hanna and her husband Louis Ravenscroft; his brother Dr. Wahid Hanna and his wife Dr. Samia Hanna; his nephew Michael Hanna and his wife Mandy Lam and their children Sophie, Mia, and Tamer Hanna. Rafik leaves behind family in the U.S., Canada, Egypt and Japan.

The family will receive friends on Friday from 5:00-7:30 PM at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, with Father Dionysis Lampropoulos conducting a Trisagion service at 7:15 PM. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday at 11:00 AM at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, with Father Hedra Faltaous of St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church of Knoxville officiating. Burial will follow at Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery, with arrangements by Berry Highland Memorial. Friends may leave their thoughts and memories at www.berryhighlandmemorial.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Social Services Committee of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States for the needy in Egypt https://www.suscopts.org/diocese/donations/

“Always stay humble and kind.”