HONKE, Paul H. 1917-2003

HONKE, ERTZ, HANKE, LUEKEN, SWANDA, LINDEMAN, DUMMER

Posted By: Jeffrey R. Phillips (email)
Date: 1/22/2005 at 13:36:07

Paul H. Honke
By: 10/15/2003

October 29, 1917-September 22, 2003

NAPER, Neb. - Paul H. Honke, 85, of Naper, Neb., died Sept. 22, 2003, at Avera Gregory Healthcare Center in Gregory, S.D. Funeral services were held Friday, Sept. 26, at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Butte, Neb., with Father Tom Gall officiating. Military rites were provided by the American Legion No. 51 of Butte. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Paul was born Oct. 29, 1917, to Paul and Emma (Ertz) Hanke at Butte. He attended Saints Peter and Paul Parochial School and Butte High School. He served with the Army Air Corps during WWII, earning his Silver Wings as a B-17 bomber pilot. Paul was a P.O.W. after his plane was shot down. On May 30, 1944, he was married to Gertie Lueken at Winner, S.D. The couple farmed and ranched in the Butte and Naper area.

Paul was very active in his church and community, serving in leadership roles and receiving many awards for his work in Nebraska agriculture.

Survivors include his wife, Gerite; two daughters, Carolyn Swanda and husband Larry of Des Moines and Shirley Lindeman and husband Wenlyn of Iowa Falls; three sons, Paul "Bud" of Naper, Gregg and wife Karla of Carroll, and Keith and wife Gina of Butte; one son-in-law, Willard Dummer of Spencer; 16 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; three sisters and three brothers. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Janice Dummer; his parents; and four brothers.

Brockhaus Funeral Home of Butte was in charge of arrangements.

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