Henry Paul Hannemann
February 19, 1931 to April 3, 2025
Our beloved father, Henry P. Hannemann, departed this world on April 3, 2025 at the age of 94. In July 2024 he entered Avera Home hospice care after being diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. In his final eight months he was able to flourish and enjoy being at home where he wished to spend the rest of his life. On April 1, 2025 he made the decision to enter inpatient hospice care at the Sioux Falls VA Healthcare Center in Sioux Falls, SD where he spent his final two days.
Henry Paul Hannemann was born at his parents farm home near Miltown, SD on February 19, 1931 to Henry and Viola (Radamacher) Hannemann. He attended Wolf Creek Country School (District 30) during his elementary years and Freeman High School for two years. In March 1946 his parents moved to a farm southwest of Bridgewater, SD and he finished his high school education at Bridgewater High School graduating in 1948. It was during his time in Bridgewater he met and fell in love with his future wife, Lilas Tschetter. They were united in marriage in Portland, Oregon on September 12, 1951 and were married for 55 years. After discharge from the military he and Lilas made their home in Bridgewater, SD until 1972 when they moved to Sioux Falls, SD. Henry being a gifted carpenter built his home in Sioux Falls where he lived and planned to die.
After high school graduation Henry worked on the family farm while considering his future. In 1951 he joined the United States Air Force and after basic training was selected to serve as a communication specialist in the United States Air Force Security Services, a branch of the Air Force tasked with monitoring, collecting and interpreting military voice and electronic signals with transmission for United States intelligence. He attended jump school at Portland International Airport and radio operators school at Keesler Air Force base in Biloxi, MS. where he became proficient at the Morse Code and surveillance. He was deployed in 1953 to Ashiya, Kyushu, Japan and then to K-55, Osan, South Korea.
After Henry was honorably discharge in 1955 from the Air Force he pursued a career in agriculture and took a position with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a federal livestock inspector with an initial focus on the eradication of brucellosis. He worked with USDA until his retirement in 1987. Upon his retirement Henry and his life partner Lilas spent time traveling in their motor home to Arizona, Texas, and Florida and eventually opted to spend the majority of their time in Sioux Falls as they took a keen interest in their growing grandchildren and their activities.
Henry was beloved by many for his kindness, courage, quick-wit, and story-telling. His faith in Christ prompted him to be a student of the Bible. He felt called to serve in various lay-capacities at Central Baptist Church and Trinity Baptist Church as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and mentor. He had a gift for public speaking and imparting biblical truths through compelling stories of everyday life.
Henry was the father to three adult children, Nancy Jo, Keith Paul, and Scott Edward, providing a childhood that included discipline, love, faith, hard work, and a can-do attitude. Living in a rural setting we grew up on an acreage with various animals: horses, sheep, and numerous dogs and cats. Our home in Bridgewater was a symbol of my dad’s love for animals, carpentry, and gardening. Camping became a favorite family past-time.
His example of love and devotion to his family was at the heart of our father. Henry cared for his wife Lilas at home for four years until her death in 2006. In addition to his wife, Lilas, Henry was preceded in death by his father and mother Henry and Viola (Radamacher) Hannemann, his younger brother, James Hannemann, and his son-in-law Melvin Thomas.
Henry Hannemann is survived by his three children: Nancy (Hannemann) Thum-Thomas, Keith (Peggy) Hannemann, and Scott (Jane) Hannemann, eight grandchildren: Jonathan (Melissa) Thum, Daniel (Mary) Thum, Joseph (Lauren) Thum, Amber (Hannemann) Steiner, Thomas (Kayla) Hannemann, Luke (Megan) Hannemann, Alex Hannemann (fiancé Allie Harvey), and William Hannemann, ten great-grandchildren: eight great grandsons, two great-grand daughters, and a ninth great-grandson arriving in June 2025.
If you feel inclined please make a donation to the Union Gospel Mission in Henry's name.
Union Gospel Mission
701 E 8th St
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
A visitation will be hosted by his children from 9:30-11:00 am with a memorial service to follow at 11:00 am at Heritage Funeral Home, 4800 South Minnesota Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD on Saturday, April 12, 2025.
Heritage Funeral Home is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Henry Funeral Time: Apr 12, 2025 11:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/86829836399?pwd=rCnNfIOHdAthVChqa4NvdRXaqabdy5.1
Meeting ID: 868 2983 6399Passcode: 035579
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