Herald Ralph Handke was born 14 July 1925 to Henry and Edna Downing Handke, in Oto, Iowa. Herald is one of nine brothers and five sisters. He attended Oto Public School.
Herald enlisted in 1943 and served until 1946. Herald went through the Navy as a non-swimmer. His job was a gunner on an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific. The Navy took him to Alaska and Hawaii. Pranks, he got his ear pierced when crossing the equator. He was in Alaska when the war ended. Herald was discharged, 22 March 1946, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Herald married Mae M. Gotto, 27 May 1953, in Oto. They had two children, JoAnn M. and James H., four grandchildren, Erina and Tyler Handke; Jesse and Jennifer Black; two step-grandchildren, Lonnie and Jason Balack; two step great-grandchildren, Nick and Tristan Black.
Post war, Herald was a packing house worker, like to hunt and fish, and play cards. Herald was a member of the VFW in Oto. He left us 31 December 1995, in a Sioux City hospital, and is buried at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Oto, Iowa.
Submitted by his wife, Mae Handke.
