Leon Hanke

Leon August Hanke, 89, passed away at home Tuesday, July 12, 2011 after his battle with cancer. He was born August 31, 1921 in Eagle River, WI to Caroline and Charles Hanke.

Leon graduated high school in Eagle River, WI and received his B.A. from LaCrosse State Teachers College in 1948. He later received his Masters from the University of Colorado and was selected to attend 5 National Science Foundation Institutes. He was a private first class in the United States Marines from 1942-1945, he served in the battles of Okinawa and Peleliu Palau Islands and was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. Leon had a 40 year long career in education. He was a teacher and principal in Michigan for 14 years and later moved to Yuma where he taught science for 26 years and retired in 1983. A couple of hobbies that Leon enjoyed were fishing, golfing, bowling, dancing and hunting. His most favorite was traveling all across North America with his wife in their big black and white van pulling their travel trailer. They never met a stranger at the RV Parks.

Leon is survived by his wife of 64 years, Juanita Hanke; daughter, Marilyn Hanke; grandsons, John Davis and Leon Cramp; granddaughters, Lori Davis, Rebecca (Ken) Hart and Susan Cramp; great-grandsons, Saren Hart and Anthony Tesillo; great-granddaughters, Amberlynn Cramp, Aimee Hart and April (Sean) Winslow; great-great-granddaughter, Cheyenne Winslow; nephews, John Charles (Jack) Thomas, Tom (Jane) Thomas and Russel Pitzner; niece, Peg (Don) Liebman.

He was preceded death by his daughter & son-in-law, Barbara (Dave) Davis; parents, Caroline and Charles Hanke; brothers, Myron, Raymond and Chuck; sister, Dora; niece, Mary-Jo Finucan; nephew, Rollie Thomas.

Memorial services will be held at Johnson Mortuary Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. His final resting place will be in Wales, Wisconsin. Memorial donations may be made to AWC-Science Club; Attn: Cecilia Vigil; PO Box 929, Yuma, AZ 85366 or Hospice of Yuma, 1824 S 8th Ave, Yuma, AZ. Arrangements under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Desert Lawn Memorial Park, Yuma, AZ.