Jeremiah “Jerry” Hankins, Sr. (1851-1933)

HANKINS, GRAU, CHINN, MORRIS, JOHNSON, GOLDMER, CROFUTT, PERSKE

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12

From Nevada Evening Journal December 20, 1933 (page 3)

Funeral Service for Jerry Hankins

The funeral services for the late Jerry H. Hankins, Sr., was held Sunday, December 17, 1933 at 1:30 p. m., at the Methodist Episcopal church at Colo. The services were conducted by Rev. Golden Thompson of the Evangelical church.

There was short services at the house at 1:00 p. m. Prayer by Rev. Thompson, and a duet by Mrs. Guy Handsaker and Mrs. Wilbur Gerlack, "No Disappointment in Heaven."

The pallbearers were old time friends of the deceased, August Cerka, Will Mead, Marion Perry, Will Donaldson, Crim Gunder, Geo. Lantz.

The flowers were cared for by Mrs. Annie Handsaker, Mrs. Otha U. P. Church and Isabel Bamford.

A male quartet, consisting of Serkin Rienheart, John Lounsberry, Charlie Lakman and Chas. William sang, "Nearer My God to Thee", "No Night There" and "We Will Never Say Good-bye in Heaven," accompanied by Miss Velda Reinheart at the piano.

Mr. Hankins was laid to rest in the Oak Hill cemetery by the side of his wife and two daughters.

Jerry H. Hankins, son of John Wesley Hankins and Sarah Hankins was born in Hannibal, Illinois, September 20, 1851 and passed away at the home of his son Dennis on December 13, 1933 at 10:50 at the age of 82 years, 2 months and 23 days.

His mother died in 1852 and he with his father immigrated to Iowa that same year. They first located in Washington county and later in 1865 came to Story county. With the exception of three years in Oklahoma he had lived his entire life in Story county and adjacent counties.

He was united in marriage to Mary E. Grau in Tama county in 1872. To this union were born 14 children, five boys and nine girls. Ten of them survive. They are:

Mrs. Cora Chinn, Mott, N. D., Mrs. Lillian Morris, Portland, Oregon, Lawrence of Albion; Mrs. Grace Johnson of Marshalltown; Dennis of Colo; Sylvester of Ames; Goldmer of Nevada; Ms Goldie Crofutt of Marshalltown; Jerry of Zearing; and LaVina Perskie of Moorhead, Minnesota. He is also survived by one half sister, 24 grandchildren and 2 great-grand children. His wife passed away July 29, 1911. He was also preceded in death by four daughters.

From the time he was nine years old till in 1913 he had always been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1913 he remarried taking as his wife Mrs. Phoebe McCain who passed away in 1924. At the time of his last marriage he transferred his membership to the Evangelical church in which he held membership till death. As a youth he had assisted his father in many revival meetings. His father was a Methodist minister. Mr. Hankins had also filled many places of leadership in the church during his active years.

He had been sick for about nine week with complications of high blood pressure and dropsy. During the last few days of his life gangrene set in and hastened his death.

Mr. Hankins was a man who was highly respected by all those who knew him. He had been a good father and kind neighbor. His genial disposition was such that no word of complaint came from his lips in spite of severe suffering during his closing days. Though he has passed on, his life shall remain a blessed memory to those who knew him.