Mrs. Jean Suzanna Gohr Henke

HENKE, Jean S. (nee Gohr, Schabel) age 86, entered into eternal life on Friday, May 25, 2012 surrounded by her loving family. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 11804 S. Saginaw St., Grand Blanc. Mrs. Henke will lie in state at the church Tuesday at 10 a.m. Interment to follow at Evergreen Cemetery. She graduated from Grand Blanc High School in 1943 and graduated from University of Michigan Nursing Program in 1947. She married Edward Henke in 1947 at Holy Family Catholic Church. A Registered Nurse, Jean had served as the Assistant Head Nurse of Women’s Surgery at Hurley Medical Center and had worked for several prominent Flint Physicians. In 1950, she started her career as the Head Industrial Nurse with Fisher Body in Flint, retiring in 1985 following 35 years of service. She was a founding member of Holy Family Catholic Church and a member of World War II Cadet Nurses Corps. She was also an original participant in the Harvard Nurses Health Study since 1975 and was very proud of the insights on health and disease resulting from the research studies. She will be greatly missed. Surviving are her children, Cameron Henke of Grand Blanc, Mark Henke of Grand Blanc and Joan (Robert) Maland of St. Paul, MN, grandchildren Cameron (Tammy) Henke, Kia (Donald) McAlindon, Jonathan Osborn, and Christopher Osborn, and great grandchildren Maddy, Sebastian, C.J., and Olivia. Preceded in death by the love of her life Edward in 1985, daughter in law Patricia Henke, mother Ruth Schabel-Atherholt and brothers Gilbert and Roy Schabel. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jean’s memory may be made to the Playground Project of Holy Family Catholic School. A special thanks to Helping Hands Home Care and Kathy Stratton from Genesys Hospice. Also a special thanks to family and friends, because due to your generous donations, two large, inscribed bricks honoring Jean will be placed at the site of the new playground at Holy Family Catholic School.