Charles Warren Hanke

Charles Warren Hanke passed away on Wednesday, April 26, 2017. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Maxine Kennedy Hanke; their sons, Charles William Hanke and John Christian Hanke; and three granddaughters. He and Maxine were married on June 6, 1962 in the District of Columbia.

Charles was born on August 18, 1924, in St. Louis, Missouri. He served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in WWII (1943 – 1946) as an Aerial Photo-Topographer with the 2765th Engineer Base Photo Mapping Company, including service in the European Theatre for 13 months. He went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree from Washington University in St. Louis, a Master’s Degree from Northwestern University, and completed the requirements for a doctorate in Sociology at Washington University in St. Louis in 1954. He later earned a Juris Doctor Degree in law from Yale Law School in 1971. He moved to the Washington, DC area in the 1950’s where he pursued a career in urban planning in the District of Columbia, first with the National Capital Planning Commission (1960-1966), then with the District of Columbia Redevelopment Land Agency (1966 – 1968), and again (after finishing law school) from 1971 until his retirement in 1980. He was a member of the American Institute of Planners and the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. In addition he was a member of the District of Columbia Bar and was admitted to the Bar of Maryland as well.

Charles loved the outdoors. He was an avid hiker along the C&O Canal and the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and Maryland, and a serious bird-watcher. Closer to home, he took great joy in studying the backyard birds, feeding the squirrels from his hand or shoulder, and caring for the family’s pets. He was also an accomplished sailor, including participating in competitive sailing for some years.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, May 13, 2017, at 2:30 pm at the Joseph Gawler’s Sons funeral facility at 5130 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016. A reception will follow at 3:30 – 5:00 pm at the Sunrise Senior Living residence at 5111 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008. Memorial contributions in Charles Hanke’s memory (in lieu of flowers) may be made to the Washington Humane Society, (http://www.humanerescuealliance.org), 202-723-5409. Donations in Charles’ memory will be kindly appreciated by his family.