Dan E. Hankins

A graduate of Grand Ledge High School in 1955, Dan went on to serve his country in the Marine Corps (1957 – 1959). Upon returning, Dan found a passion for the law, first as a Sherriff's deputy with Eaton County and then with the Michigan State University Department of Public Safety (1960 – 1969), where he founded the Tri-county metro squad. Dan took his passion for law one step further by attending Detroit College of Law (1969 – 1972) where he was the recipient of the Ben Probe Memorial Moot Court Competition award.  While an attorney, Dan specialized in labor law and worked tirelessly to advocate for the unions of the hardest workers in the state until his retirement in 2014.

In 2007, Dan felt a new calling--to serve the people of his community who needed help the most. Dan used his faith in God to found Manna’s Market, a food, clothing bank and baby pantry which grew from Dan buying all the food himself, to serving an average of 800 people per month as a United Way charitable partner.

Dan’s belief in God was the foundation for which he lived his life, built his family, guided his marriage and propelled him to serve others using all of his talents. Dan was always there to encourage, support, and offer his hand to walk with you when you needed him the most and had a unique love of animals.

Dan has been reunited in heaven with his Mother and Father, Jack and Ruby (White) Hankins; his brothers Jack and Thomas; his sisters Joyce (Ron-deceased) Cypher and Irene (Phil- deceased) Plunkett; his nephew, Chad Hankins; and father-in-law, Roger Flanigan.

He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Jayne (Flanigan) Hankins, loving father of Elizabeth (Trish) Hankins and Jessica (Paul) Melson, beloved Papa to Audrey and Maura Melson, dear brother to Marjorie (Jim-deceased) Darnell and David (Kathy) Hankins, and his mother-in-law Janice Flanigan.

He was a husband, father, grandfather and friend. He was the one that we all could count on. He will be profoundly missed by his family and his community, but we all take comfort in knowing that Dan had answered every call from us and has now answered his final call, the call home from his Lord. May we honor his memory by continuing his legacy of service to others in the name of Christ.  God be with you till we meet again.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 27 at the Koops Funeral Chapel in Lake Odessa from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with Rosary at 7:30 p.m. His celebration of life will be held at the Lakewood United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 28, officiated by Randall Bertrand, Pastor of the Woodgrove Brethren Christian Parish, and John Waite, Assistant Pastor of the Lakewood United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you consider honoring his memory by contributing to Manna’s Market, PO Box 18, Woodland, MI 48897.