Obituary for Jerry Hehnke Gerald (Jerry) Hehnke Jerry Hehnke, 82 of Grand Island died Friday, September 28, 2018 at CHI Health-St. Francis. Services will be 10:30 AM Wednesday at the Bosselman Conference Center-Fonner Park. Daniel Naranjo will officiate.
Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 PM Tuesday at the Bosselman Conference Center-Fonner Park. All Faiths Funeral Home is serving the family.
Jerry was born in Grand Island, Nebraska to Oscar V. and Helen (Harrison) Hehnke on November 23, 1935. He graduated from Grand Island Senior High. In November of 1957 he married his high school sweetheart, Chick (Charlene Noakes).
Following graduation, in 1958 Jerry worked for the O.V. Hehnke Company for a short time before leaving for the United States Army, serving from 1958 to 1963. He was stationed at Ft. Benning, GA and Ft.
Ord, California. Upon returning to Grand Island, Jerry resumed work for the O.V. Hehnke Company. In1967 he purchased the company from his father, changing the name to Jerry’s Sheet Metal Heating and Cooling, Inc. After Chick’s death he later married Carolyn (Sanders) in 1993.
Jerry remained working at this namesake company, with his sons and daughter-in-law joining him as the company grew. Jerry loved having his family working with him and watching the small company thrive and grow throughout the years into the largest heating and cooling company in Nebraska. His firm grew from a 6 man shop into over 60 employees.
It was named Lennox’s top companies in the United States and Canada and winning the “Circle of Excellence” award, the last 8 years in a row. Jerry’s Sheet Metal installs and services furnaces and air conditioners in the majority of businesses and homes in this area and was awarded most all major commercial projects here and throughout the state. In 2016, Jerry’s Sheet Metal was presented Hall of Fame Award for Business Excellence.
Jerry enjoyed playing and watching baseball. He played baseball for the Army, playing well enough he never had to take basic training or pick up a rifle. He played semi-pro baseball throughout Nebraska from 1952-1974.
He coached youth baseball for numerous years and Legion baseball for over 14 years. Always quick with a joke or comeback, Jerry enjoyed dining out and dancing at the clubs. However, his favorite passion was to watch his grandkids play softball and baseball.
It reminded him of “how great he was”. Memberships include the Platt Duetsche, Eagles, Liederkranz, United Veterans Club and the Saddle Club. Survivors include his wife, Carolyn; sons and daughters-in-law, Jay and Julie Hehnke, KC and Deb Hehnke, Monte and Tami Hehnke; step children, John and Cheryl Walker and Kim and John Hass; sister, Mary O’Rourke of Kearney; sister-in-law, Nancy (Tom) Hehnke of Hastings; grandchildren, Kaitlin, Calvin, Chandler and Camdyn Hehnke; step grandchildren, Zach, Eric, Adam and Collin Walker and Ben, Isabella and Lilly Hass; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Donna and Dee Rockwell, Roger and Joyce Noakes, John Hanssen, Jim and Colleen Cummings, Gary and Jo Sanders, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Chick; brother, Tom; sister, Sylvia; brother-in-law, Gerry O’Rourke. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established in memory of Jerry. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Jerry Hehnke please visit our Sympathy Store.
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