Hanke, Jerry 1943-2017

HANDKE, YOUNKER, TUTTLE, KOEHN, KICKBUSH, THIESE

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 10/26/2019 at 11:56:06

Jerry Handke, 73, of Guttenberg, Iowa died with family by his side at home on Sunday, July 9, 2017.

Jerry was born August 22, 1943 at the family home in Millville, Iowa to Ervin and Margaret (Maxine) Handke.

Jerry married Catherine (Cathy) Younker on February 10, 1962 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Guttenberg. Together, they had two children, Brian and Julie.

Jerry graduated from Guttenberg High School in 1961 and joined the Navy shortly thereafter. He was very proud of his Navy service, serving the majority of his time in Newfoundland and California.

Jerry worked for the John Deere Dubuque Works for 34 years, retiring in 1997.

Jerry and Cathy spent much of retirement traveling to see family, vacationing and spending time together. They enjoyed a special trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with the entire family in June of 2016. He was the family handyman and his travels always included a “job jar” waiting for him. Regardless of where his travels took him, Jerry never stayed away from the Mississippi River for long. His love for fishing and being on the water was something he instilled in all of his family, especially his grandchildren.

Jerry is survived by his wife Cathy, two children Brian (Sherri) Handke of Linn Creek, Missouri and Julie (Mike) Tuttle of Milton, Georgia. Four grandchildren, Braden (Jessica) Handke, Cassidy Handke (Taylor Bax), Spencer Conrad and Lilli Tuttle, one great grandchild, Kaden Handke, and his sister Judy (Ron) Koehn of Marion, Iowa.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Ervin and Maxine (Kickbush) Handke, his sister Betty Thiese, sisters in law Coralie Heller and Carol Simpson, and brothers in law, William Thiese and Laverne (Snooks) Heller.

Obituary & photo published by Tuecke-Allyn Funeral Home and Crematory Services