In Memory of Jack Henke

Obituary

Jack Henke, of Brookfield, embarked on his final voyage on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

A native Utican, Jack was born in 1950, the beloved son of John and Marion Henke, grandson of Stanley and Jeanette Osterhout - the best parents and grandparents a child could have. Their love for Jack embraced academics, which strongly influenced his graduation from Utica Free Academy (1968), Hamilton College (B.A. - History, 1972), Brown University (M.A. - Education, 1973), and Syracuse University (M.S. - Library and Information Science - 2007). Jack always prayed that every child in the world was given the total devotion that he received.

Another blessing in Jack's life occurred in 1974, when Brookfield Central School hired him to teach social studies. It was a perfect match of teacher and school. Jack retired in 2011. In addition to his educational duties, Jack regularly coached modified boys' soccer and basketball, guided the varsity boys' soccer (1985-88) and basketball teams (1995-96), and advised senior classes and the varsity club. Above all, however, Jack was a history teacher who tried to pass a love of learning to "his" children.

From 1990 until 2011, Jack's senior classes produced books that documented the Town of Brookfield's history. These publications recorded over 2,000 pages of the community's oral traditions, photographic images, and newspaper records. Jack's classes interviewed scores of Brookfield residents. Among the books were Honor, Brought Home (1997 - interviews with World War II veterans), A Shattered Silence (1999 - with Vietnam vets), and All We Have is Each Other (2009 - with veterans of the War on Terror). Jack believed that involving high school students in the writing and publication of history was teaching at its best.

Jack's zeal for history and its writing extended to his private life. An Oneida Lake aficionado, Jack authored five books about the lake's past, the last being Oneida Lake History: Facts, Fables and Photographs. He was drawn to the lake's rich saga, and was working on a sixth publication at the time of his death. He often lectured about Oneida Lake history and particularly enjoyed his annual summer talk at Sylvan Beach's venerable Union Chapel. Jack also served on the board of the Oneida Lake Association and edited its Bulletin for sixteen years.

Jack was a proud member of Zion Lutheran Church, a congregation that his father's family joined after they arrived from Germany in 1928. For Zion's birthday in 2017, he authored A 175th Anniversary History of Zion Lutheran Church. He also wrote A New Zion in New Hartford: 1959-2019. Creating these books involved fascinating research that Jack enjoyed sharing with his congregation.

And, reflective of the Osterhout-Henke family tradition, Jack fished. A lot. Oneida Lake was his playground, the scene of countless hours of angling bliss. He especially treasured trips with his best friend, Karen Howlett, and "their" nieces, Jordyn and Erin. He proudly posted photos of the girls' catches on FB and liked to boast that, after a trip with his ladies, the lake level dropped six inches.

Jack's second career began at the New Hartford Public Library, two days after his Brookfield finale. He worked as a reference librarian, the "answer man" for his patrons' diverse, often challenging, questions. He was forever grateful to Beverly Devlin and Mary Javorski, who taught him the intricacies of the trade, and to Bernice Costner and Anne DuRoss, stellar directors who supported his efforts 100%. Jack's Syracuse education stressed that librarians make every patron's experience a positive event and his work reflected that ideal.

Jack leaves his beloved best friend Karen, and his equally beloved nieces, Jordyn and Erin. He also leaves Erick and Sarah Wilcox and their children, Brian and Royce, and other members of his adopted Brookfield family. In addition, he leaves his Capabianca, Cece, Grube, Kirn, and Zuck cousins, many dear friends, and hundreds of his Brookfield children, whom he was privileged to teach. He was predeceased by his parents, grandparents, his fishing/hunting partner Brian Stillman, and all too many of his friends and children.

The funeral will be on Saturday, October 24, at 10:00 am at Zion Lutheran Church, French Rd., New Hartford.  Interment will be private and in New Forest Hill Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are with Friedel, Williams, & Edmunds, Oxford Road, New Hartford.

Contributions in his memory may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, 630 French Road, New Hartford, NY, 13413.

Above all, please do not mourn Jack's passing. He lived a great life and shared its richness at every opportunity. His final wish is that those whose lives he touched will pass on the eternal joys of life, love, and brotherhood to their children and the world.

For online expressions of sympathy go to fwefh.com.