Bruce A. Hinkel 1947-2009
TAYEK, HINKEL
Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 12/16/2009 at 11:20:47
Bruce A. Hinkel, 62, of Waukon died Sunday, November 29, 2009 at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare in LaCrosse, WI. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 2 at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, December 1 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.
Bruce A. Hinkel was born August 6, 1947 in Prairie du Chien, WI. He was the son of Richard Albert and Kathryn Ann (Tayek) Hinkel. He grew up in the Marquette area, was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in McGregor, and graduated from Mar-Mac High School in 1965. Following high school, he signed a contract to play professional baseball as a pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He played Triple A ball for part of a season, facing batters like Curt Flood and Roger Maris, before an elbow injury ended his career.
Bruce was a Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force from 1971 until 1974, serving as an operating room special technician. Following his discharge, he stayed in San Antonio, TX for several years and worked in a veterinary hospital. While there he played softball for the Pearl Brewing Company team. His team won the national championship and Bruce was named the tournament MVP. In 1997 he moved back to Marquette, where he worked for the Harmon Speaker Company in Prairie du Chien, WI. Since 2003 he has lived in Waukon and was working for Heartland Windows.
Bruce was an avid sportsman and in addition to playing ball, he enjoyed golf and fishing. He was a loyal fan of the Chicago Bears and Cubs and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Collecting coins and wolf pictures as well as playing cards were some of his other interests. His family and friends knew Bruce as a good-natured and kind man who had a heart of gold and would be there to help in a New York minute.
Survivors include his mother, Kathryn Hinkel of Marquette; a brother, Lee (Kymm) Hinkel of Waukon; his fiance, Cherie Ash of Waukon; a nephew, Eric Hinkel of Breckinridge, CO; two nieces, Sarah (Drew) Hager of Waukon and Brooke (Steve) Weighner of Harpers Ferry; one great-niece; five great-nephews; and his beloved cat, Princess. He was preceded in death by his father, Richard Hinkel.
Honorary casketbearers are Dennis Mason and Kim Bernatz. Casketbearers are Drew Hager, Steve Weighner, Dan Straate, Frank Goltz, Dennis Kloke, Jim Ranum, Perry Norton, and Al Nyberg.
Waukon, Iowa newspaper, THE STANDARD, December 2, 2009. Contributor is not related and has no further information.
Allamakee Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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