Pearl Henke, 77, of Marcus, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at her home in Marcus surrounded by her family.
Celebration of Life Service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 21, 2024, at Rejoice! Community Church in Le Mars. Pastor Mike Metten will officiate. Burial will follow at Holy Name Catholic Cemetery in Marcus. Visitation with the family present will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at Rejoice! Community Church in Le Mars. There will be a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will resume from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Friday at the church. Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com.
Pearl Lorraine Massmann, the daughter of Melborn and Etta (Fegebank) Massmann, was born on November 19, 1946, in Paullina, Iowa. She attended school in northwest Iowa and graduated from Sutherland High School in 1965. Following high school, she went to work as an operator for the phone company.
While attending a V.F.W. dance, she met her future husband, Ronald Henke. They were united in marriage on November 11, 1965, in Cherokee, Iowa. While Ron was serving his country in the United States Army, he and Pearl lived in Germany. Following his discharge from the service in 1967, they made their home in Cleghorn, Iowa. Pearl continued to work for the phone company. In 1968, they moved to an acreage north of Marcus. In 1976, they began farming south of Marcus. In 1987, they moved to Marcus. In 1990, they stopped farming when the farm they rented was sold.
After moving to Marcus, Pearl went to work for K-Products and later as a secretary for the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn School board. She later worked for O’Brien County as a dispatcher and later Cherokee County as a dispatcher. After that, she worked at State Savings Bank in Marcus until her retirement. Ron passed away on August 13, 2019. She continued to make her home in Marcus.
Pearl was a member of Rejoice! Community Church in Le Mars. She enjoyed playing cards with her girlfriends for over 40 years. She also enjoyed gardening and canning. Fishing, sewing, and cooking were also things that she enjoyed. Her greatest joy was her family, especially her grandchildren. She enjoyed watching them participate in their activities.
Survivors include her 4 daughters: Laurie (Gary) Powell of South Sioux City, NE, Cindy (Scott) Gries of Sibley, IA, Jamie (Kory) Alesch of Remsen, IA, and Kristi (Chris) Hagan of Milford, IA; 11 grandchildren: Brandon (Taylor) Powell, Carissa (Phil) Rasmussen, Trevor Gries, Bailey Gries, Tanner Gries, Chloe Alesch, Gavin Alesch, Garrett Alesch, Colby Hagan, Colton Hagan, and Cody Hagan; a future grandson to be born in November; her sisters: Lynn (Ron) Ross of Joplin, MO, and Betty Massmann of Cherokee, IA; her in laws: Robert (Carolyn) Henke of Cleghorn, IA, Shirley Bobolz (David) of Quimby, IA, Sharon Kenan of Cherokee, IA, Connie (Don) Wilson of Cherokee, IA, Julie (Roger) Ashbaugh of Cherokee, IA, Janice (Denny) Wieland of Aurelia, IA, and Linda (Les) Pedersen of Cleghorn, IA; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her father and mother-in-law, Joseph and Berniece Henke; her husband, Ronald Henke; an infant daughter, Angie; a grandson, Cole Gries; her siblings: Phyllis (Jerry) Parrott, Charles (Betty Lou) Massmann, and Clifford (Nancy) Massmann; and her in laws, Ivan Bobolz, Tim Kenan, and Steve Cosgrove.