TEWKSBURY: Paul F. Hanke, age 72, a resident of Tewksbury for 45 years, passed away on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at the Winchester Hospital.
He was the beloved husband of Carol (Doucette) Hanke, with whom he celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary on April 19th.
Born in Springfield on March 23, 1938, he was the son of the late Paul A. and Marcella (Crane) Hanke.
Paul was raised in Springfield and East Longmeadow, Mass. He attended Sacred Heart Grammar school and graduated from Cathedral High School in 1956.
Following graduation, he enlisted in the Massachusetts Air National Guard and served in Phalsbourg, France during the Berlin Crisis.
Prior to his retirement in 2000, he was employed as a carpenter by the Salisbury Construction Company of Peabody., where he worked for several years.
Paul resided in East Longmeadow until moving to Tewksbury in 1965. He was a communicant of St. Williams Parish, and was an active member of St. Williams Men's Club.
Mr. Hanke was a Fourth Degree member, past Grand Knight, past District Deputy and past Financial Secretary of the Knights of Columbus, Fr. Francis Coppens Council # 4336 of Tewksbury.
He enjoyed many activities including cruises to the Caribbean, traveling to Bar Harbor, ME, Disney World and Cape Canaveral in Florida. In addition, he enjoyed watching local sports teams.
Besides his beloved wife Carol, Paul is survived by one son, Paul V. Hanke and his wife Elaine of Burlington; four daughters, Brenda M. Ferdinand and her husband Anthony of Brookline, NH, Lisa A. Rancourt and her husband Scott of S. Grafton, MA, Sharon E. Sonnenfroh and her husband David of N. Andover and Donna and her husband Robert Levin of Bar Harbor, ME; seven grandchildren, Stephen A., Kevin P., Carolyn R and Kaitlyn G. Ferdinand, Jessica L. Rancourt, Emily K. Sonnenfroh and Eliza D. Levin; one brother, Robert W. Hanke and his wife Maria of Springfield; one sister, Ann Alaimo of Glens Falls, NY; also many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Hanke was the brother-in-law of the late John Alaimo.
Calling hours Thursday, May 6th, from 4-8 p.m., at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee St., Tewksbury. Funeral Friday, May 7th, at 9 a.m. from the funeral home, followed by his Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Williams Church, 1351 Main St., Rte. 38, Tewksbury. Interment at St. Mary Cemetery, Tewksbury. Donations in his memory may be made to the Leukemia Discovery and Treatment Fund, c/o Massachusetts General Hospital Development Office, 165 Cambridge St., Suite 600, Boston, MA 02114 or to the Oblate Novitiate, 486 Chandler St., Tewksbury, MA 01876