Samuel Henke

Samuel E. Henke 85, died peacefully with his family by his side on Monday, September 30, 2013 in Cloquet.

Sam was born January 20, 1928 to John and Pauline (Rathke) Henke in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, where he grew up and graduated from high school. Sam served in the US Navy during WWII. He married Dorla Kruger in 1948 and they moved to Silver Bay in 1955, where they lived in their home on Edison Blvd for the rest of their lives.

Sam was employed by Reserve Mining as a Civil Engineer, retiring in 1984. He later worked for Rust Engineering building the new paper mill in Duluth.

Sam was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Silver Bay. He enjoyed fishing,hunting, golfing, model airplanes, snowmobiling, four-wheeling, and motorcycling. He was a proud member of the Wrinkle-Riders.

He loved spending time with his grandchildren and adored his five great-grandchildren. He looked forward to the special fall fishing trips he took with his nephew, Peter. He enjoyed many trips to the hunting shacks in Westover and Mahtowa. He enjoyed chicken dinners on Mondays, Spaghetti on Tuesdays and Sunday morning breakfasts with friends. He enjoyed watching golf, racing, and the Packers on TV, and took special care of his hummingbirds that gave him so much pleasure to watch each year.

Sam was preceded in death by his loving wife of 58 years, Dorla in 2007, his brother,Jack, and a son, Thomas in 1967.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Sandy and Bob Anderson of Cloquet; sisters, Kathryn Jest of Milwaukee, and Helen Brandt of Gary, Indiana; two grandchildren, Tom (Tara) Anderson of Alexandria, Minnesota; and Jody (Philip) Gabler of Ithaca, New York; Five Great-grandchildren; Luke, Brooke, and Travis Anderson and Eleanor and Lucia Gabler; one sister-in-law, Mary Jones of Tomahawk, Wisconsin, and many nieces and nephews, and a special friend, Don Dumais of Phoenix, Arizona.

Sam's family would like to thank the doctors and staff at the Silver Bay Clinic ,Dr. Julia Baker and Dr. Jake Powell of St. Lukes for the exceptional care over the past three years. Also, the "girls" at St. Lukes Infusion center, the Radiology department, and St. Lukes Home Health Care team. Also, a special thank you to the Essentia St. Marys Hospice teams who were so kind and caring over the past few months. Many thanks to the wonderful friends who stopped by to see him, baked him goodies, brought him meals, and in general provided hours of friendship, especially Donna and Harry Holmer who were exceptional with their help and friendship.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the 11:00 service on Saturday, October 5, at Faith Lutheran Church in Silver Bay, with a Military honors burial in Lakeview Cemetery in Two Harbors.