Kevin Charles Hoenke, age 69 of Grafton, ND, passed away on Monday, November 7, 2022 at First Care Health Center in Park River, ND after a long battle with cancer.
Kevin was born on March 29, 1953 in Grand Forks, ND to Charles Hoenke and Ardella (Holt) Hoenke. Kevin was raised in Grafton and graduated from Grafton Central High School in 1971. After graduation, Kevin tried his hand at airplane mechanics and attended school in Kansas City, Missouri. He also worked at the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company in Denver, Colorado before returning home to begin farming with his father. Kevin loved farming and he and his dad farmed together for several years. Kevin then began working for John F. Desautel Farming Co. and later became a partner with his brother-in-law and father-in-law in the company.
Kevin was united in marriage to Elizabeth (Zebbie) Desautel on June 27, 1975 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Grafton. They became the parents of two boys, Christopher and David.
Kevin loved to fish and made many trips with his family to Lake of the Woods in Ontario, Canada. After that phase of their life ended, he and Zebbie sold the boat and camper and purchased a townhome in Green Valley, AZ, where they spent part of their winters for the next twelve years. He loved his kids and grandkids unconditionally and loved being around them watching them turn into the fine people they are today.
Kevin was a faithful member of Zion English Lutheran Church in Grafton and was Sunday School Superintendent for a number of years when his boys were young. Kevin, also, served on the boards of the Nash Grain and Trading Elevator, the Lutheran Sunset Home and the Grafton Rural Fire Department.
Kevin is survived by his wife, Zebbie; sons: Christopher (Jennifer), David (Jaime) and grandchildren: Laith, Izley, Brayden, Harlow and Brynn Hoenke, all of Grafton; sisters: Cheryl Estevis and Carol (Mark) Osowski and brother-in-law, Bill Collette all of Grafton; parents-in-law, Jack and Rae Desautel, Grafton; brother-in-law, Jay (Jan) Desautel, Moorhead, MN; ten nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters: Glenda Glanner and Jodean Collette, brothers-in-law: John Glanner and John D. Desautel.
Funeral Services will be Saturday, November 12, 2022 at 10:30 A.M. at Zion English Lutheran Church, Grafton, ND. Visitation will be Friday from 5-7:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton. Friends may call at the church on Saturday for one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will be at the Grafton City Cemetery, Grafton, ND.
Kevin was born on March 29, 1953 in Grand Forks, ND to Charles Hoenke and Ardella (Holt) Hoenke. Kevin was raised in Grafton and graduated from Grafton Central High School in 1971. After graduation, Kevin tried his hand at airplane mechanics and attended school in Kansas City, Missouri. He also worked at the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company in Denver, Colorado before returning home to begin farming with his father. Kevin loved farming and he and his dad farmed together for several years. Kevin then began working for John F. Desautel Farming Co. and later became a partner with his brother-in-law and father-in-law in the company.
Kevin was united in marriage to Elizabeth (Zebbie) Desautel on June 27, 1975 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Grafton. They became the parents of two boys, Christopher and David.
Kevin loved to fish and made many trips with his family to Lake of the Woods in Ontario, Canada. After that phase of their life ended, he and Zebbie sold the boat and camper and purchased a townhome in Green Valley, AZ, where they spent part of their winters for the next twelve years. He loved his kids and grandkids unconditionally and loved being around them watching them turn into the fine people they are today.
Kevin was a faithful member of Zion English Lutheran Church in Grafton and was Sunday School Superintendent for a number of years when his boys were young. Kevin, also, served on the boards of the Nash Grain and Trading Elevator, the Lutheran Sunset Home and the Grafton Rural Fire Department.
Kevin is survived by his wife, Zebbie; sons: Christopher (Jennifer), David (Jaime) and grandchildren: Laith, Izley, Brayden, Harlow and Brynn Hoenke, all of Grafton; sisters: Cheryl Estevis and Carol (Mark) Osowski and brother-in-law, Bill Collette all of Grafton; parents-in-law, Jack and Rae Desautel, Grafton; brother-in-law, Jay (Jan) Desautel, Moorhead, MN; ten nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters: Glenda Glanner and Jodean Collette, brothers-in-law: John Glanner and John D. Desautel.
Funeral Services will be Saturday, November 12, 2022 at 10:30 A.M. at Zion English Lutheran Church, Grafton, ND. Visitation will be Friday from 5-7:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton. Friends may call at the church on Saturday for one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will be at the Grafton City Cemetery, Grafton, ND.