Wernke, Henry 'Hank'

Henry “Hank” Wernke, 78, of 460 Woodland Ridge, Dubuque, passed away Saturday, April 20, 2013, at home. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 24, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Dubuque, with the Rev. Steven Rosonke officiating. Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Hoffmann Schneider and Kitchen Funeral Home, 3860 Asbury Rd., Dubuque, where there will be a wake service at 6:30 p.m.

Hank was born Oct. 15, 1934, in Luxemburg, Iowa, son of Henry E. and Ida E. (Digman) Wernke. He married Patricia A. Brimeyer on Sept. 10, 1955, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Dubuque. He worked at St. Regis/Georgia Pacific for 40 years and was a member of St. Anthony Parish.

He played fast-pitch softball starting in the early 1950s into the 1980s. He was a shortstop with Lange's Insurance for many years and played in five world tournaments. He managed the Lux Club team and took them to the world tournament in 1971, finishing in fourth place. He was one of the founders and charter board member of the Dubuque Fastpitch Softball Hall of Fame and was inducted as a player in 1984. In 1980, he was inducted into the Kiwanis Softball Hall of Fame.

Hank was a loving husband, a devoted family man and a loyal friend to many.

Surviving are his wife of 57 years, Patricia Wernke; his children, Ami (Tom) Wagner of Dubuque, Julie (Steve) Oswalt of Des Moines, Eric Wernke of Davenport, David (Laura) Wernke of Oswego, Ill., and Tony (Nikki) Wernke of Dubuque; his grandchildren, Erin (Dino) Pagliai, T.J. (Melissa) Wagner, Brian (Heather) Wagner, Rachel Wernke, Nicholas Wernke, Nathan Wernke, Noah Wernke, Crede Wernke, Max Wernke and Ozzy Wernke; stepgreat-granddaughter, Payton Tomkins; sisters, Mary Root and Diane Hasken, both of Dubuque; and brothers, Donald (Helen) Wernke and Fritz (Barb) Wernke, also of Dubuque.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, John “Stretch” Wernke.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Hank's name to benefit Hospice of Dubuque and St. Anthony's Parish.

The family wishes to thank Kristina and Jan of Hospice of Dubuque for the special care given Hank. Also, a thank you to Sister Margaret Ann and Father Steve Rosonke of St. Anthony's and Dr. Ronald Schope, Dr. Mark Hermann and Tony Heiar.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hoffmannschneiderfuneralhomes.com.

Published April 22, 2013 in The Gazette