Harold Henry Henke

Harold Henry Henke, 86, of Fredericksburg, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015.

A private memorial service is planned at a later date.

Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Fredericksburg Funeral Home.

Henke was born May 31, 1928, the son of Guenther and Elsie Henke. He married Rita Schirk on May 17, 2002, and she survives.

A lifelong rancher, Henke grew up on the family ranch between Fredericksburg and Kerrville. His schooling began in a one-room schoolhouse and progressed to the Morris Ranch School, Fredericksburg High School and then Trinity University in San Antonio.

He graduated from Trinity in 1950 with a bachelor of science degree in business and then served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.

Upon the death of his older brother, Otto, in 1955, Henke moved his family to the ranch and took over operations, breeding registered Hereford cattle and becoming active in the Texas Hereford Association.

In addition to his wife, Henke is survived by two children, Mark Henke and his wife, Cheryl, of Justin, and Lane Tait, of Fredericksburg, and their mother, Carolyn Henke, also of Fredericksburg.

He is also survived by four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, and one sister, Marjorie Nehring of Seattle, Washington.

Along with his parents, Henke was preceded in death by one brother, Otto Henke, and two sisters, Louise Dietel and Mabel Simmons.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Hill Country Memorial Hospice or to the charity of choice.