Eleanor Louise Hanke

Eleanor Louise Hanke Rochester Eleanor Louise Hanke died on October 16, 2016, at Samaritan Bethany Home on Eighth in Rochester. Eleanor was born on November 2, 1922, in Olmsted County, Minnesota, to Edward and Freda (Predmore) Kester. Eleanor graduated at age 16 from Eyota High School in 1939 as the class Valedictorian. Along with being a valedictorian came a $300 scholarship to continue her studies at Rochester Junior College. Eleanor worked the rest of that summer for $3/week to earn money for books. She worked for her room and board for a local dentist Dr. Robert E. Miner. While attending Rochester Junior College she was swept off her feet by William E. Hanke. They were married on December 28, 1940 for almost 74 years. During the war years she traveled with Bill to Camp Riverside in California and to the shipyards of Oregon. Upon returning to Rochester she worked as a seamstress and sewing instructor at the Singer Store in Rochester. She took care of their young son while Bill fought in World War II. Upon Bills return they worked together to build three family homes from the ground up. She went back to Rochester Junior College in 1963 and graduated in 1965. This was the same year that her daughter Linda graduated from John Marshall High School. At this time, it was almost unheard of for a married woman to go back to school. Education was very important to Eleanor and she set the example for her children to pursue an education. Eleanor graduated from Winona State College in 1968 with a degree in Business Education. She taught at Zumbrota High School for the 1968 1969 school year. She then was hired by St. Marys Hospital to write the curriculum to train Unit Secretaries. She continued to teach new Unit Secretaries until her retirement in 1980. Eleanor always wanted to retire someplace warm in the winters, so they built another home in Horshoe Bend, Arkansas. She enjoyed traveling the country with her husband in a small acorn trailer and later a motor home. She and Bill returned to Rochester in 1991 and built another home. This time it was a townhome. Eleanor enjoyed sewing her own clothes and had made several outfits for children and grandchildren throughout the years. When her daughter Linda was young she made elaborate doll clothes. She used her skills to make curtains, bed skirts, tablecloths and anything else she needed. She also completed several Norwegian Hardanger embroideries of white thread on white woven cloth. She enjoyed hosting family night Sequence or cribbage games. These were often teams of boys against girls from 3 generations and winning was important! Eleanor and Bill downsized again into a new complex called Grammercy Park Cooperative on Arthur Lane in NW Rochester. They had many years of involvement at this location before moving again to The Homestead of Rochester. Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband, parents, 3 brothers, 2 sisters and a son-in-law, David Grabau. She is survived by 4 children, Barry (Diana) of Rochester, Linda Grabau of Racine, Minnesota, Paul (Donna) of Urbana, Illinois and Joan (Joseph) Lucas of Stewartville. There are eight grandchildren and twenty-two great-grandchildren. The family is extremely grateful for the help from the staff of Samaritan-Bethany Home on Eighth, Home Instead staff, The Homestead of Rochester staff, Dr. Paul Takahashi and the Reverend Dr. TeresaRoberts. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 21, 2016 at Congregational Church U.C.C. 974 Skyline Dr. SW in Rochester with The Reverend Dr. Teresa Roberts officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service Friday at the church. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens, Rochester, Minnesota. To share a special memory or condolence, please visitwww.ranfranzandvinefh.com Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes 5421 Royal Place NW Rochester, MN 55901