John Henke

John Henke, 86, Gackle, ND, died peacefully on February 6, 2025, at SMP Health-Ave Maria in Jamestown, ND.

John was born on August 14, 1938, in rural Gackle, ND, to Rosina (Mayer) and Adolph Henke. He attended elementary school at Neudorf Country School and graduated from high school in Gackle where he played in the state basketball tournament in 1955.

John joined the U.S. Army on September 8, 1960. He completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. After basic training, he was stationed in Korea where his unit guarded the DMZ. He was honorably discharged with commendation for expert Rifleman.

In 1962, John returned to Gackle where he married the love of his life, Janet (Miller) on December 16. Their honeymoon took them on a road trip to California and back. After returning, they purchased a farm, including the equipment and cattle, south of Gackle where they raised three children. John was proud of his time on the Emmanuel Lutheran Church Council, Gackle School Board (while rebuilding from the fire that destroyed part of the building), Gutschmidt Township board, and Gackle Grain CO-OP board. John and Janet farmed and raised cattle with their sons until 2003 when they retired from farming. Retirement was filled with several drives to Colorado and California to visit their children, and driving to countless ballgames to watch their grandchildren play and cheerlead. After most of the games they drove back to the farm, usually well after midnight “like the teenagers”. John and Janet made many dear friends and have cherished memories while traveling with tour groups to all 50 states and to several foreign countries. John still worked hard after his time farming by cutting and hauling load after load of scrap iron in his brown trailer to Jamestown. They were invited to Washington, DC, for recognition of their work restoring wetlands and filling drainage ditches on their farm for the Chase Lake Prairie Project. 

In 2012, John began treatment for Parkinson’s disease. He and his family are incredibly grateful for the service of the medical staff that allowed John 13 more years with them that was mostly symptom-free. They are also extremely grateful for the short but exceptional care from staff and volunteers at Ave Maria Village and JRMC Hospice.

John is survived by his wife Janet; his children JJ (Shelly), Cavalier, ND; Jolene (Scott) Pane, Lakeport, CA; and Joey (Heather), Denver, CO; five grandchildren; and one great grandchild. Siblings include 4 sisters in-law, Carol Henke, Gackle, ND; Darlene Trautman, Medina, ND; Hulda Peterson, Holdrege, NE; and LorRaine (Ralph) Rivinius, Streeter, ND; one brother in-law, Marvin (JoAnne) Miller, Gackle, ND.

John is preceded in death by his parents, Adolph and Rosina Henke; his brother, Edmund Henke; and his sister, Matilda Henke in infancy.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Gackle, the Western ND Honor flight or the Gackle American Legion.

Memorial Service- 11:00 AM Monday, March 3, 2025, at Haut Funeral Home in Jamestown.

Interment- Gackle Cemetery, Gackle, ND (at a later date)