Karen Hanke

Biography

Karen Kay Hanke died Thursday, March 10, 2005 at McCook Community Hospital. She was 66 years old.

Karen was born on January 12, 1939, at Oberlin, Kansas to Myron Lee and Pearl Edna (Pearson) Pollnow. She graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1956 and was homecoming queen in 1955.

On August 10, 1964, she married Dr. Vernon Harold "Bud" Hanke at Cheyenne, Wyoming. To this union two children were born. They made their home in McCook where Karen was a homemaker.

She was a charter member of the Open Door Extension Club in Red Willow County, volunteered and was president for two years for Meals-on-Wheels and room mother for her children's school, and was an avid reader, flower gardener, and cook. She loved and cared for stray cats.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Myron and Pearl Pollnow.

Survivors include her husband, Bud Hanke of McCook; son, Chris Hanke and wife, Heather, of Lincoln; daughter, Shannon Hanke of Lincoln; three sisters, Doreen and husband, Everett Schuler, of Oberlin, Melvalyn and husband, Gary Guinn, of Oberlin and Connie and husband, Jerry Grochowski, of Pacifica, CA; three grandchildren, Farren, Broc and Greyson Hanke all of Lincoln; and beloved cat, Pebbles.

In lieu of flowers memorials were to be given to the McCook Library, Meals-on-Wheels or American Cancer Society.

A private family graveside funeral service was held Monday, March 14, 2005, 10:30 a.m., at Memorial Park Cemetery with Pastor Clark Bates.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

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