Edwin Jerome Henke

Edwin Jerome Henke was born April 20, 1934, to Ernest and Margaret Henke on a farm southwest of Osborne, Kansas. He peacefully departed this life of 91 years Friday morning, October 10, 2025, at the Ware Living Center in Amarillo, Texas.

Young Ed was a star athlete, excelling in numerous track and field events prior to developing a hip disease. Ed graduated from Osborne High School and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kansas State University.

Ed danced with Edna Eileen Reinert at a church social in Tipton, Kansas, which blossomed into a whirlwind romance. On February 1, 1958, they married at Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Cawker City, Kansas. On their honeymoon, they moved to Burlington, Iowa, so Ed could begin his career at Mason & Hanger, Silas Mason Co. Five children, Denise, David, Doris, Daniel and Darrin, were born to this happy union.

In 1974, Ed relocated his family to Amarillo, Texas, where he lived since.

Ed progressed through his career at the Pantex Plant, retiring as Director of HE Engineering in 2001. Besides work and supporting his children’s and grandchildren’s activities, Ed was involved in many other endeavors: several bridge clubs, delivering food and providing support for Amarillo homeless shelters, high school debate judging, AISD substitute teaching and St Thomas the Apostle Parish: choir, lectoring, perpetual adoration and Men’s Club. Ed’s passions included dancing with Edna, playing bridge, working on cars, tinkering in his shop, antique clocks, his convertible Cadillac, watching college and pro football, reading, and investing.

Ed was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, sister Helen Goheen and brother-in-law Alvin Goheen, brother Harold Henke, sister-in-law Bonnie Reinert, brother-in-law Wayne Johnson, and brother-in-law Eugene Wagner.

Left to mourn his passing and celebrate his life are his children: Denise and husband David Brakey of Garden City, Kansas, David and wife Michelle Henke of Flower Mound, Texas, Doris and husband Jay Leverett of Amarillo, Texas, Daniel and wife Lori Henke of Reeds Spring, Missouri, and Darrin and wife Mary-Margaret Henke of Denver, Colorado, sister Barbara Wagner of Downs, Kansas, sister Joyce Henke of Downs, Kansas, brother-in-law Richard Reinert of Downs, Kansas, sister-in-law Virginia Johnson of Denver, Colorado, sister-in-law Evon Henke of Osborne, Kansas, eleven grandchildren: Richard (Tami) Jagels, Ryan (Shanna) Jagels, Danelle (Jason) Reeves, Reid (Danielle) Jagels, Carson (Sarah) Leverett, Brandon (Rachel) Henke, Britt Henke, Luke (Rena) Henke, Megan (Landon) Crowe, John Henke, and Michael Henke, twelve great grandchildren: Reese, McKenna, Cooper, Jalen, Braden, Jackson, Graysen, Olivia, Wesley, Maggie, Halle, and Hayden, and many relatives, friends and caregivers.

Visitation and Rosary will be held at 6 pm on Friday, October 17, 2025, at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel in Amarillo, Texas, and the funeral Mass will be held at 10 am on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Amarillo, Texas. Entombment will follow at Llano Cemetery in Amarillo, Texas. The children would like to express their deepest gratitude to the caregivers at Ware Living Center for lovingly caring for their dad; their compassion and skill was a gift to Ed, and to all of the residents. The family requests memorials be given to the Ware Living Center, 1510 S Van Buren St, Amarillo, TX 79101-4130 (Memo: Employee Appreciation Fund).