Arnold Hanka

Buffalo, Minn. - Arnold "Arnie" Anselm Hanka, 82, of Buffalo, Minn., and formerly of Manchester and Willimantic, passed away at his home in Buffalo on Jan. 2, 2007.

A loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, he was born on Jan. 12, 1924, in Minneapolis, Minn., son of the late Anselm and Saima Maria (Hilden) Hanka.

He was the husband of the late Elizabeth Ann Walsh of Willimantic.

Arnie was a Navy veteran of World War II, serving as a Gunner's Mate Third Class aboard LST 74. He participated in the Anzio invasion in Italy and the initial invasion of the southern coast of France. He received the European-African Two Stars, the Victory and Good Conduct medals.

After the war, he was employed as a machinist at Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford until his retirement in the 1980s.

He was a jack-of-all-trades around the house - in plumbing, carpentry and electrical work - and would attempt to fix anything. His children marveled at his ability to restore, restart, rehabilitate or improve anything he put his many talents to, and he was always eager to share his abilities with all who needed help.

Arnie was an RV-ing pioneer who loved to travel the United States in his vans, which he customized to make his and his wife Betty's many highway sojourns more comfortable. He loved to camp with his boys and made many trips to Minnesota with them during summer vacations to visit family.

He was an avid skier into his 60s and taught this sport to his grandson, Shawn, now a professional ski instructor in Utah.

Arnie was a simple, kind and gentle soul who will be greatly missed by family and friends. Please honor him by sharing a smile, kind word or deed with those around you as you go about your day.

Arnie was predeceased by his wife Betty on Oct. 4, 1981.

He is survived by four sons, Karl M. of Chaplin, Conn., Harold E. and his wife Carol of Pawcatuck, Conn., George B. and his wife Kim of Tolland and Robert A. of Duluth, Minn.

He was the brother of Elaine Burnham of Buffalo, Minn., with whom he lived; Ernest Marvin Hanka of Rush Lake, Minn., and Thousand Palms, Calif.; Marlene Moreno and her husband Peter of Maplewood, Minn., and LaVerne Kinvig and her husband Dennis of Hamel, Minn.

He was the grandfather of Shawn, Erik, Laira, Ashley and Jonathan and great-grandfather of Noah, Scott and Alana. He was the godfather of Aaron Burnham.

Arnie also is survived by his former daughter-in-law, Mary Hanka, and leaves numerous loving nieces, nephews and friends.

He was predeceased by a granddaughter, Marissa.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Jan. 13 at 11 a.m. at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Willimantic. Per Arnie's wishes, his ashes will be interred with his wife Betty in the New Willimantic Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 96 Oak St., Willimantic, CT, 06226.