John D. Hankey

John “Jack” Donald Hankey, age 86, passed away at his home after a brief illness on Thursday, February 4, 2010, with his family at his side. John was born on September 26, 1923, in Norwich, New York, the son of the late William and Vivian (Heslop) Hankey, and spent his boyhood years in the Butternut Valley of Gilbertsville, New York. Jack graduated from the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University in 1947. Prior to his graduation, he worked in Oakridge, Tennessee on the Manhattan Project. Following graduation from Syracuse, Jack worked at the Sealright Company in Fulton, New York, where he met the love of his life, Helen Hughes. They married on May 30, 1952 in Fulton, New York, and later moved to Appleton, Wisconsin where Jack was employed at the Institute of Paper Chemistry for twenty-five years. He resigned his position as a research associate in 1977 in order to establish his own independent laboratory, John D. Hankey and Associates. The company offered materials analysis to the pulp and paper industry using light microscopy. Jack diligently worked side by side with his son Doug, until just recently. Jack loved to hunt, fish, camp, golf, play bridge, and garden. Many of these passions he passed along to his children.

Jack will be greatly missed by his five children: J. Douglas (Daphne) Hankey of Appleton; Steven Hankey of Appleton; Leslie (Mike) Dugas of Beaverton, Oregon; Mary (Joe O'Connor) Hankey of Morris, New York; and Mark Hankey of Appleton; a brother: Robert Hankey of Wellfleet, Massachusetts; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and his former daughter-in-law: Patricia Hankey. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Helen, an infant son, a sister: Jane Walker of Ithaca, New York; and his grandson: Mitchel Hankey.

Services for Jack will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, February 8, 2010 at the Wichmann Funeral Home, with Sr. Joanne Goessl of St. Mary Catholic Church officiating. Interment will follow at Highland Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday morning from 10:00 AM until the time of the service. A memorial fund has been established to benefit some of Jack's favorite charities.

“We'll see you when we see you. Tally ho!”

Wichmann Funeral Home
537 N. Superior Street
Appleton, WI 54911
920 739-1231