Evelyn Genevieve Hankel

HANKEL, Evelyn, age 96, of Astoria , died in Astoria. The second child and first daughter of John Joseph and Evelyn Germann Leahy of Astoria.  Evelyn Leahy Hankel was born at home on Kensington Avenue March 31, 1919.  She attended Star of the Sea School and Marylhurst University and then transferred to Oregon College of Education (now Western Oregon University) which is where she met her future husband Halland W. Hankel.  They were planning a spring 1942 wedding but the attack on Pearl Harbor and the military activation of Halland made them change the wedding to December 1941.  During the war years when her husband was overseas she lived in Astoria with her parents and two small children.  After the war she embarked upon the life of the wife of an army officer and his career took them to many assignments including four overseas.  During those years, the size of the family increased so that by the time her husband retired there were ten children born at various places around the world.  Evelyn loved teaching school and managed to successfully combine being a loving wife and mother to a large family with teaching whenever possible.  She taught at Lewis and Clark Elementary, Star of the Sea School, Warrenton Grade School and was principal and superintendent at Olney Grade School.  She even taught at a school in Okinawa, Japan.  Writing was her passion.  She was a published author of poetry and won awards for her poems.  Genealogy research and local history were her special interests, especially since her family first homesteaded in the Astoria area in 1879.  She was the co-founder of Clatsop County Historical Society's Cumtux magazine and wrote numerous articles about local families and history for that publication and others.  She enjoyed writing letters to famous people.  When she read that Queen Elizabeth II's yacht would be passing by, she wrote and invited her to stop in Astoria for a cup of tea and received a note politely declining.  She had a lifelong association with St. Mary Star of the Sea Church and School and spent many hours of volunteer service to both.  She was an active member and president of the Altar Society and a strong supporter of Star of the Sea School which she had attended and was sorry when it closed.  Family was very important to Evelyn.  She was the devoted wife of Lt. Col. Halland W. Hankel who passed away in 1987.  She had a close relationship with her siblings during their lives: her brothers Joseph J. and William J. Leahy and her sisters Patricia Leahy Alfonse and Joanne Leahy Andrich.  She organized large family gatherings every year out at the original Leahy family homestead in Olney and this tradition will continue in her memory.  She will be fondly remembered and missed by her children and their spouses: Eileen Burton (Gim) of Ridgefield, CT.; Hal Hankel Jr. (Margie) of Astoria; Bill Hankel (Jeanne) of Cascade Locks, OR.; Clare Carson (Bob) of Walla Walla, WA.; Lynne Hansen (Rolf) of Everett, WA.; Rita Lerwick (Steve) of Eagle River, AK.; Paulette McCoy (Lee) of Astoria; Carl Hankel (Karen) of Vancouver, WA.; David Hankel (Teri) of Rockville, MD.; and Patti Nelson (Charlie) of Castle Pines, CO.; 32 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and friends.  Contributions can be made to the Clatsop County Historical Society and St. Mary Star of the Sea Church.  Visitation will be held Thursday, May 7, 2015 from 1 until 5 p.m. at Caldwell's Luce-Layton Mortuary, Astoria, OR.  Recitation of the Holy Rosary will follow, May 7th, 2015 at 7 p.m. at Caldwell's Mortuary.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, May 8th, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Astoria.  A reception will follow at St. Mary's Leahy Auditorium.  Private graveside service will be held at Fort Stevens Post Cemetery in Hammond, Oregon.