Hanke, Grace Isabel Letkemann (1872-1949)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 Jul 7 p. 5

Birth date: 1872 Jul 25

text of obituary:

. . .

— Funeral services were held at the Draper Funeral Home on Saturday for Mrs. Grace Isabel Lettkeman [sic Letkemann] Hanke, who passed away June 30. Rev. P. P. Buller and Rev. D. J. Unruh officiated.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 Jul 14 p. 3

text of obituary:

MRS. GRACE ISABELL [sic ISABEL] HANKE

Grace Isabell [sic ISABEL] Letkemann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Letkeman[sic] was born in Oklahoma July 25, 1872, and departed this life at her home in Newton, Kansas June 30, 1949, at the age of 76 years, 11 months and five days.

When she was two years old her mother and infant sister were taken from her in death. She often longed for a mother's love. In 1880 she and her father came to Kansas, living in Newton a short time, then moving to a farm near Goessel where she spent her girlhood days.

On Oct. 30, 1890, she was united in marriage to Henry Hanke. To this union were born thirteen children, eight sons and five daughters, and both parents had the pleasure of seeing all of their children grown to manhood and womanhood.

She was a member of the Methodist church of Halstead, Kansas.

Soon after their marriage they moved to Newton, where they made their home until 1902, when they moved to the farm near Goessel that had been her girlhood home. Here they reared their family. In 1930 when their health began to fail they again moved to Newton,

She was a kind and loving mother and grandmother, always deeply concerned for the welfare of her family.

Although she had been in poor health for several years she never complained. When stricken with this last illness about April 1 of this year, she expressed her wish and readiness to go home but was willing to wait for her Master's Call. It was a blessed relief when she fell asleep in Jesus.

She will be greatly missed by all, especially by her three daughters, Emma, Frieda and Edith, and son Elmer who were constantly at her side reach to help and comfort her in any way they could through her illness

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, one daughter-in-law, one son-in-law, and two grandchildren.

She leaves to mourn her departure eight sons, Arthur of Wichita. Kans., William of Hesston, Kansas., Henry of Goessel, Kans., Oscar of Kip, Kans., Herman, Irvin, Harry and Elmer, all of Newton; five daughters, Mrs. Esther Dirksen of Iron Mountain, Mich., Mrs. Eulala Childs of Dallas, Texas, Mrs. Frieda Geer, Mrs. D. G. Klassen and Edith, all of Newton; also twenty-three grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, two nieces, two nephews and a host of friends who mourn her departure.

Funeral services were held Saturday. July 2, at 1:00 p. m. at the Draper Funeral Home, with Rev. D. J. Unruh and Rev P. P. Buller, officiating. A male quartet from the Goessel Mennonite Church sang “The Old Rugged Cross,” and "Take Thou My Hand.’* Pallbearers were Harry Geer, Herkus Geer, Billy Gene Hanke, Harley Glass, Emmert Rowland, and Albert Klassen.

At the graveside services the quartet sang "Safe In The Arms of Jesus." Interment was made in the Hanke family lot in Greenwood.