Gervase Henry Hanken

Monday, June 27, 2016 3:52 pm

Gervase Henry Hanken, 76, of Ossian, died Tuesday, June 21, 2016, at Ossian Senior Hospice, Ossian. Visitation is Tuesday, June 28, from 4 to 7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. scripture service at Schmitz-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Ossian. There also is a one-hour visitation before Mass at the church Wednesday. Mass of Christian Burial is at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 29, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Ossian, with Rev. Daniel Knipper as the celebrant. Inurnment is at Hillside Cemetery, Ossian. Schmitz-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Ossian, is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Gervase was born June 7, 1940, on the family farm near Ossian, to John and Agnes (Timp) Hanken. Gervase attended St. Francis de Sales Elementary School and graduated from St. Francis de Sales High School in 1958. Gervase was united in marriage with Margaret Ann Wenthold June 18, 1960, in Festina. To this union, five children were born. Gervase was a semi driver for Livestock Transport and Hanken-Pulda Trucking for many years. He returned to college and received his Bachelor of Applied Science degree from Upper Iowa University In 1984. Gervase taught at MFL-Mar Mac School until his retirement in 2003. Gervase and Margaret lived in Ossian and the surrounding communities of Decorah and Fort Atkinson during his lifetime. He was a member of the Silver Springs Golf and Country Club and was a retired member of the Ossian Fire Department. Together with Margaret, they were members of the St. Francis de Sales Rosary Society. He enjoyed watching the Iowa Hawkeyes and the ISU Cyclones, playing cards with friends, golfing, wintering in Arizona and spending time with family, especially his grandchildren.

Gervase is survived by his wife, Margaret Hanken of Ossian; five children: Heidi (Ron) Herold of Calmar, Jon Hanken of Ione, Calif., Brett Hanken of Guttenberg, Melissa (Jeffrey) Heying of Calmar and Dennis (Kari) Hanken of Beaverton, Ore.; four grandchildren: Taylor Heying of Des Moines, Jerod Heying of Calmar, Chloe Hanken of Beaverton, Ore. and Sophia Hanken of Beaverton, Ore.; siblings, Orville (Germaine) Hanken of Maple Grove, Minn. and Inez Gallinaro of The Villages, Fla.; one sister-in-law, Marie Hanken of Fremont, Neb.

Gervase was preceded in death by his parents, John and Agnes Hanken; brothers, Cyril Hanken, Donald Hanken, Vernon Hanken, Alan Hanken and Roger Hanken; sisters-in-law, Evie Hanken, Irma Hanken, Lucille Hanken and Diane Hanken; brother-in-law, Nick Gallinaro; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Henry and Margaret Wenthold; and many extended family members.