HAROLD ALLEN "HANKY" HANDKE was born in Tuttle,
OK on Oct. 7, 1946 and entered his eternal rest
on Dec. 7, 2021 in Kaufman, TX.
He was welcomed to his heavenly home by his parents
Frank & Ortha Handke, sister Teresa Handke, late wife
Paula Handke, along with his grandparents, aunts,
uncles, cousins, in-laws and many friends that he
deemed family.
Those remaining to carry on his legacy are his wife
Wanda Lewis, daughter Megan Handke and her husband
Matthew, stepson Greg Lewis and his wife Angel,
grandson Dakota Lewis and his wife Katie, grand-
daughter Savanah Ketchum & her wife Lacey, grand-
daughters Alesia & Alex Davis, aunts Neoma McKinney
and Arlene Wilkins, bonus daughters Crystal Rees
and Jenna Teeter, and his great grandbabies, lights
of his life, Ryleigh Anne Lewis, Jaxson Don Lewis
and Patrick Kennedy. He is also survived by a host
of other family members and friends, all of whom
held a very, very special place in his heart.
Harold grew up surrounded by his loved ones and
although they moved many times as an Air Force
family, Tuttle was always home. He graduated from
Amarillo High School in 1965, worked as a mechanic
for Ford, and was drafted into service in 1968. He
proudly served in Vietnam for two years. It was
during this time that he met Paula, and once home
from service, they married in May of 1970. Together
they had one child, their daughter, Megan. Harold's
career was at AT&T's manufacturing plant, where he
was employed for over thirty years.
Harold's wife, Paula, passed away in 2004, and he
was fortunate to find love again a few years later
with Wanda Lewis, who was his former co-worker at
AT&T and longtime friend. Together they transitioned
into retirement and enjoyed being great grandparents
full-time.
Now let's really get into who Harold was and spark
memories to make you smile.
He could make anything. His woodworking was top-notch,
he made hand-turned pens, he could make any bottle
into a lamp and got volunteered for props for all of
Megan's activities. He could fix anything from a
vehicle to a broken heart, was always calm and level-
headed and was blessed with a quiet strength that drew
people in. He talked like Donald Duck. All the kids
who ever knew him were delighted to hear him do it
and always requested it the moment they saw him. He
loved guns, hot rods, pocket watches, country music,
animals, fishing, playing guitar and being in the
country with Wanda.
Harold was a devoted husband who cared for Paula
every moment of her illness right up to her last
minute and later doing anything and everything he
could to show his love to Wanda. He was a man among
men and those he chose to live life with held the
highest rank in his heart.
He was the most involved, supportive and present dad
making countless props, doing science fair projects,
teaching Megan to draw, bake, drive, fish, play guitar
and much, much more, including always having a dad
joke ready.
He was the perfect friend. Loyal, trustworthy, never
too busy to lend a hand or an ear, and always up for
a bit of good-natured mischief. His friends were his
family and we wish we could list each one by name here.
Being Papa was his favorite thing in this world. He
never stopped talking about those great grandbabies
and loved taking them for rides on the "dump truck",
going to the pond, and playing whatever they wanted
with them.
Although we have had to say goodbye for now, each of
us have been imprinted by his love, will keep his
memory alive, have a Hanky story for every occasion,
and celebrate his beautiful life that he was so
grateful for. "Sing it, Willie!" - Hanky