Joe Handke, age 80, of Elk City and a former resident of Mangum, Oklahoma, passed away Saturday, July 23, 2016 at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City.
Joe was born in Lacross, OK on July 5, 1936 to his parents Adolf Gustuv Handke and Anne Me (Worthington) Handke. He grew up in the Pocasset, Oklahoma are and graduated class of 1954 from Verden High School. On August 3, 1957 he married Earlene Davis in Albuquerque, New Mexico and they enjoyed almost 59 years of marriage together. They lived in Oklahoma City and Durham, Oklahoma where Joe worked as a carpenter building houses and he also ran the Durham Lumber yard for many years. In 1987, they moved to Mangum and Joe worked for Mangum Public Schools until he retired. Joe was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Mangum and he could often be found wherever the coffee drinkers/story tellers group was meeting. He enjoyed his work as a carpenter, visiting with people and spending time with his family were some of Joe’s favorite things.
Preceded in death by his parents; four sisters, Martha Whitley, Julia Dudley, Lottie Houts and Ethel Cox; one brother, Garrett Handke; and his son-in-law, David Barton; Joe is survived by his wife Earlene of the home; his daughter, Verla Jo Barton of Reydon, OK; two sons, Doug Handke and his wife Gloria of Foss, OK and Neal Handke and his wife Beth of Norman; one sister, Leona Dudley of Garden City, Kansas; seven grandchildren, Chris Barton and wife Janet of Cheyenne, Oklahoma; Sarah Batterton and husband Dustin of Cheyenne, OK; Michael Barton and wife Nicole of Senecaville, Ohio; Zachary Barton and fiancée Mallory of New Orleans, Louisiana; Tanya Rockhold and fiancée James Livingston of Clinton, Ok; Joseph and Meagan Handke of Norman; nine great grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews, other family members and friends.
The family will receive friends at visitation from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Monday, July 25, 2016 at Greer Funeral Home in Mangum.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church in Mangum with Reverend Marsha Purtell officiating. Cremation arrangements will follow under the direction of Greer Funeral Home of Mangum.
Living Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 301 West Jefferson, Mangum, OK in honor of Joe Handke.
www.GreerFuneral.com July 23, 2016