John Nicholas Hankes 1920-2008

HANKES, PIERCE, HEER, GULL, ANDEREGG

Posted By: J. N. (email)
Date: 6/16/2008 at 21:34:22

Telegraph Herald
Dubuque, Iowa
Monday June 16, 2003

John N. Hankes

ELKADER, Iowa -- John Nicholas Hankes, 87, of Elkader, died Saturday, June 14, 2008, at the Elkader Care Center, following a brief illness.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 17, at Leonard Funeral Home, Elkader, where friends may call after 9 a.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in Linwood Cemetery, Dubuque, where military rites will be accorded.

He was born on Sept. 14, 1920, in Dubuque, son of John and Elizabeth (Pierce) Hankes. John graduated from Dubuque Sr. High School in 1938. He later attended Bayless Business College from March 1942 through September 1947.

He entered the Army on Dec. 14, 1942, serving in World War II and was honorably discharged on Dec. 9, 1945.

He worked for the U.S. Government Soil Conservation Department until retiring in 1976, when he moved back to Elkader to live with his sister, Doll.

John enjoyed gardening, playing the organ and accordion and reading. He also enjoyed racing pigeons until a tornado destroyed their home in 1985.

Those left to keep John's memory alive include a sister, Florence (Doll) Heer, of Elkader; a brother, Jim (Arletta) Hankes, of Colesburg; a sister-in-law, Muriel Hankes, of Charles City; and many nephews, nieces and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Charles Hankes; and two sisters, Elsie Gull and Josephine Anderegg.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.