Donald J. Handke, 93, Huron, Kansas, died Friday, November 16, 2018, at Atchison Senior Village.Mass of Christian burial will be Friday, November 23, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Louis Church at Good Intent with Fr. Dan Gardner as celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Louis Church Cemetery.  A parish rosary will be recited on Friday, November 23rd at 10:45 A. M. at St. Louis Church. Visitation with the family Friday, November 23rd from 9:30 until 10:45 A. M. at the Church.

Donald was born April 11, 1925, at his parents’ home in rural Atchison County, the son of Julius and Helena “Nellie” (Watowa) Handke. He attended the Irish Point School in the Good Intent Community.He and Marjorie Falk were united in marriage on January 11, 1949 at St. Ann’s Church in Effingham, Kansas, by Fr. Matthew Hall, OSB. In 1949 Don and Marjorie settled on a farm near Huron where they spent their entire married life. Mrs. Handke preceded him in death on January 19, 2018.Donald was a member of St. Louis Church in the Good Intent Community. A member of the N.F.O., a director of the Atchison Grain Company. He was a trustee of Lancaster Township for twelve years.  Donald joined the District #5 Volunteer Fire Department as a founding member, organized in September of 1959 and retired from fire service after serving as department Chief for eighteen years.  He was also well known as a musician in the community, he and his younger brother Eugene played for dances for many years with the Prohaska band as a fiddler and a banjo picker.

Donald is survived by one daughter, Eileen (Don) Losito, Charlotte, NC; three sons, Jim (Diane) Handke, Lancaster, KS; Dennis (Marlene) Handke, Topeka, KS; and Tom Handke, Effingham, KS. He is also survived by three granddaughters, two grandsons, and two great grandchildren, two sisters, Ruthanna Keimig, Atchison, KS, and Leona Busenbarrick, Atchison, KS. He was preceded in death by his wife Marjorie, and two brothers, Leo Handke and Eugene Handke.