Fred Hanke

Fred Hanke, 88, of Westfield, New Jersey, passed away on Monday, June 3rd, 2024. He was happily married for 65 years to his beloved wife Hildegard.  

Fred was born and raised in Silesia, Germany which is now part of Poland. As a child he lived through World War II in Germany and afterwards attended cabinet making school, where he graduated second in his class. He immigrated to America in the 1950s and eventually founded and ran his own furniture manufacturing plant, Design Line, Inc, for over 40 years.   

He met Hildegard, who also immigrated from Germany in the 1950s, at English language School. They married in 1959 and raised two sons, John and Robert. They began their lives together in an apartment in Newark, quickly moved to Kenilworth, and eventually moved to Westfield. 

He was dedicated to his family, generous and hard working. Fred put his sons through college.  He spent many long hours making Design Line an ongoing success, not just for his own livelihood, but for the company’s many employees.  

Fred and Hildegard loved to ski and made many trips out west. They enjoyed traveling. Horseback riding was often included in their summer trips.  He was a big fan of the New York Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Fred is survived by his wife, Hildegard; his two sons, John and Robert, their wives, Jill and Janet; seven grandchildren, Joshua, Aaron, Jennifer, Rachel, Joy, Rebecca and Micaiah; their spouses and nine great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Roland, and his wife Christina and their sons, Norbert and Lorenz 

Fred’s visitation will be Thursday, June 6 from 4-8pm  with a prayer service at 7:30 pm at Gray Memorial Funeral Home, 12 Springfield Ave. Cranford, and on Friday, June 7, 2024 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. with a funeral procession to follow to Fairview Cemetery, 1100 East Broad Street in Westfield.