JANE HELEN (MARTHA) HENKE

• Visitation
  • Sunday, February 14, from 1:30-2pm at Heritage Funeral Homes (6615 W. Oklahoma Ave. Milwaukee)
• Funeral Ceremony 
  • Sunday, February 14, starting at 2pm at Heritage Funeral Homes (6615 W. Oklahoma Ave. Milwaukee)

Click here to view the service held for Jane Henke

Click here to view the committal for Jane Henke on Monday, February 15, 2021 at Wauwatosa Cemetery

Was called home to her Savior’s side on Tuesday, February 9, 2021. Jane was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 30, 1923, the only daughter of Harry and Lulu (Sturm) Wrasse. She received the gift of forgiveness, faith, and adoption into God’s family through the cleansing waters of Holy Baptism, shortly after her birth.

The Author and Sustainer of faith continued to provide for Jane’s spiritual needs through the ministry of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Wauwatosa, WI for much of her youth and young adulthood. On Palm Sunday, March 21, 1937, she stood before the Lord’s altar at St. John’s and made vows of life-long faithfulness to her Savior at the rite of confirmation, which the Lord’s Spirit alone enabled her to keep.

Jane used the academic gifts granted her to graduate as a proud member of the senior class of ‘Tosa East in 1941. With her keen attention to detail, she landed employment at the Public Waters Works and enjoyed work doing administrative bookkeeping. In later years she taught Kindergarten classes for many years at St. Matthew Lutheran School in Niles, IL and Peace Lutheran School in Otsego, MI.

According to His perfect plan and timing, the Lord brought Howard Henke into Jane’s life and the two fell in love (between baseball games) and were married before family and friends at St. John’s, Wauwatosa shortly after Howard’s graduation from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wisconsin, on a beautiful summer day, June 15, 1947.

The Giver of every good and perfect gift blessed the Henke’s with three children, Thomas, Susan, and Mark, all of whom survive their parents. Before Howard’s passing on March 8, 2000, the Lord had blessed them with 52+ years of marriage to celebrate His grace and goodness to them.

Due to declining physical and mental health, the Lord provided for Jane’s physical care the past 10 years at Tudor Oaks Health Care Center in Muskego, Wisconsin and Living Tree Estates Assisted Living in Greenville, Wisconsin. The One who determines all our days called Jane home to Himself in heaven after granting her a time of grace spanning 97 years, 7 months, and 10 days.

Jane is survived by her children: Tom (Char) Henke, Hastings, MI; Susan Oakes, Doral, FL; and Mark (Marilyn) Henke, Greenville, WI. She is further survived by 8 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Howard, her son-in-law Don Oakes, and her granddaughter Melissa Oakes.

Her mortal remains will be interred at Wauwatosa Cemetery, Wauwatosa, WI there to await the call of the Lord Jesus Christ. for when He comes, she will then possess as to her body that which she now possesses as to her soul, namely, the JOY of the Lord’s presence. May the Savior’s promise bring comfort and contentment to all our hearts: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even if he dies. And whoever lives and believes in me will never perish” (John 11:25,26).

A visitation will be held on Sunday, February 14, from 1:30-2pm at Heritage Funeral Homes (6615 W. Oklahoma Ave.) with a Funeral Ceremony to follow at 2pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are encouraged in support of WELS Home Missions, N16W23377 Stone Ridge Drive, Waukesha, WI 53188.