Phyllis Hanke, 87, of Greenfield

Celebration of Life Services: Will be held on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle, Iowa, with a luncheon immediately following the service. Private family burial will be in the Prussia Township Cemetery north of Greenfield. Pastor Steven Broers will officiate the service. The Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the professional arrangements. Online condolences may be left to the family at to be www.lambfuneralhomes.com. 

There will be no visitation. 

Memorials: May be directed to the Phyllis Hanke Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.

Phyllis Eilene Hanke went home to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 3, 2024. 

Phyllis was born on January 31, 1937 in Bevington, Iowa to LaVern and Arlene (Lewis) Pool. She was the oldest of three children. Her early years were spent on a farm northeast of Fisk until her family moved to Highland Park on the north side of Des Moines in 1945. She started school at Richland Township Consolidated and later graduated from Des Moines North High School in January of 1956. She married Alfred Hanke on January 3, 1957 and to this union four children were born. The couple first made their home in Highland Park until later moving to Sheridan Park on the east side of Des Moines.

Phyllis studied for her nursing degree while raising her four children and one foster child. She graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1974 and worked at Des Moines area hospitals until her retirement.

Following retirement, Phyllis and Al moved from Des Moines to the Hanke family farm north of Fontanelle. Although Al passed away in 2003, Phyllis continued to live on the farm until the last few months of her life. She enjoyed the tranquility of the farm and the companionship of her dogs, cats, and horses. She was also an avid traveler who took many bus trips to attractions around the country as well as cruises to Hawaii and Alaska and a recent trip to Europe.

She was a member of the Red Hat Society and the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle.

Phyllis is survived by her four children, Teresa (Kenyon) Wood of Des Moines, Brian (Jane) Hanke of Fontanelle, Bret (Teri) Hanke of Mingo, Andrew Hanke of Brooklyn and one foster son Mark Reddick of Phoenix, Arizona; seven grandchildren, Aimee Cortese, Emily Cortese, Brian Wood, Austin Wood, Alex Wood, Meghann Hernandez and Katelyn Sande; ten great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; one brother, Larry Pool of Des Moines; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband Alfred, parents LaVern and Arlene Pool, and infant brother James Pool.