Eugene John "Gene" Hanka Sr.

Eugene John “Gene” Hanka, Sr., 85 years of age died Tuesday May 8th, 2012 at Floyd Memorial Hospital in New Albany. Gene was born February 26th, 1927 in Floyds Knobs, Indiana to the late Lawrence and Anna Thein Hanka and was the widower of Helen Grace Allen Hanka who died in 1998. He retired from the Louisville Water Company after some 25 years of employment and was a US Navy Seabees Veteran of World War II. Gene was a lifelong member of St. Mary of the Knobs Catholic Church, the New Albany Knights of Columbus Cardinal Ritter Council #1221, Floyds Knobs American Legion Post #42, and the Floyds Knobs Community Club. Gene loved Floyds Knobs, farm equipment, playing cards, and most of all his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and a daughter -in-law, Karen Hanka.

Survivors include his daughter, Barbara Oesterritter and husband Mark of New Albany, Indiana; son, Eugene “John” Hanka, Jr. of Lewisville, Texas; three grandchildren, Jennifer Carlisle (David), Jeremy Hanka, and Lori Oesterritter; three great-grandchildren, Andrea, Delores, and Maltisha; two sisters, Mercedes McKnight (Walter) of Louisville, Kentucky and Celeste Strahl (Joseph) of Mesa, Arizona.

Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm Thursday and from 10:00 am until 8:00 pm Friday at Kraft Funeral Service, 708 E. Spring Street, New Albany, Indiana. His Funeral Liturgy will be 10:00 am Saturday at St. Mary of the Knobs Chapel with burial in the church cemetery.

Memorial contributions may go to the American Diabetes Association or American Cancer Society.

Online condolences may be made at www.kraftfuneralsevice.net