Individual Details

Death

THE MONTICELLO EXPRESS....PAGE 2....AUGUST 19, 1976
MONTICELLO MAN DROWNS IN POND
The body of a Monticello man, Gerke Hanken, 68, was recovered by the Monticello fire department and sheriff's deputies from a farm pond on the Kurt Gunther farm Friday morning, Aug. 13.
Rescuers were called to the Cass township farm Thursday night, Aug 12, at 7:30 p. After Hanken failed to return to his home from an afternoon fishing trip.
His car was parked on the road by the pond and his cap was found floating in the water.
Dragging operations were begun and continued until about 12:30 when they were suspended due to thunderstorms.
The search resumed Friday morning at 5:30 a.m. and the body was recovered an hour later. The death has officially been designated an accidental drowning by Jones county medical examiner, Dr. Otto Senft.
The funeral for Mr. Hanken was held Monday morning, Aug 16, at St. John Lutheran church, rural Monticello, with interment in the church cemetery. Rev.William Kronen officiated.
Mr. Hanken was born near Monticello9 Sept 21, 1907, son of Frederick and Anna Bohlken Hanken. He received his early education in the rural schools of Jones County.
On Jan. 4, 1933 he married Elsie Prull in Monticello. The couple farmed near Monticello.
Surviving are his wife; 5 children, Paul of Galveston, Tex., Mrs. Beverly Husmann of Anamosa, Mrs. Charles (Irene) Green of Monticello, Walter of Anamosa and Harlan of Monticello; 9 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandson.
Also surviving are a brother, Elmer of Monticello and two sisters, Mrs. Henry (Bernice) Hayen of Scotch Grove and Mrs. Don (Emma) Pursell of Langworthy.
Two brothers preceded him in death.
Casket bearers were Robert Lubben, Eldon Welter, William McDonough, Don Husmann, Donald Ahlrichs and Irvin Bohlken.