Walter E. "Wally" Henkel

August 19, 1930 - January 6, 2011

Walter E. “Wally” Henkel, 80, a resident of Berne, Indiana passed away at 6:45 a.m. Thursday, January 6, 2011 at his residence.

Wally was born on August 19, 1930 in St. Joseph, Michigan the son of Edward and Margaret (Schroeder) Henkel, both deceased. He married Kathleen Gerig on August 16, 1952 and she survives.

Wally was a member of the First Missionary Church in Berne. He graduated from Eastern High School in 1948 and attended Fort Wayne Bible College from 1949 until transferring to Wayne State University in 1951. He graduated from Wayne State in 1954 and then received his Masters from Ball State University in 1960. Wally taught music at Hartford Center, Chester Center, and Adams Central until 1985. He was a member of the Music Teachers Association and an active member of the Edelweiss Singers. Wally also directed church choirs and was an active member of the choir at the First Missionary Church. Upon his retirement from teaching, Wally worked for Balsiger Motors and Moser Motors in Berne.

Wally is survived by his wife, Kathleen Henkel of Berne; a son, Kurt (Vicki) Henkel of Fremont, Ohio; a daughter, Denise (Kenneth) Nedimyer of Tavernier, Florida; and a daughter, Elise Schrock of Decatur, Indiana. Other survivors include eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at the First Missionary Church in Berne with Kris McPherson officiating. Interment will be in the M.R.E. Cemetery of rural Berne.

Family and friends will be received from 2:00 – 5:00 and from 6:00 – 7:30p.m. Monday, January 10, 2011 at the Yager-Kirchhofer Funeral Home in Berne and one hour prior to the funeral service at the church on Tuesday.

Preferred memorials are to Family Hospice of Northeast Indiana or the First Missionary Church.