John Otto (Jack) Hankammer

Jack Hankammer, 89, died at his home in Topeka, KS, Wednesday, November 26, 2014. He was born to Miriam Young Hankammer and Otto Alfred Hankammer on March 31, 1925, in Pittsburg, KS.

Jack attended schools in Pittsburg and graduated from College High School on the campus of Pittsburg State Teachers College. He attended one year of college there before being called to serve in the U.S. Army. He served during WWII in the 3rd Army, 26th Yankee Division, in the European Theatre. In his service as an Infantry Medic, Jack was awarded the Bronze Star.

When Jack returned from the war, he met Joan (Jody) Veatch. They were married June 5, 1948, in Pittsburg. The couple moved to Manhattan, KS, where Jack attended Kansas State University earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture in 1950.

After graduating, Jack was hired by Williamson-Loebsack Architects in Topeka. In 1953 he opened his own architectural office in Pittsburg. In 1964, Jack was hired by the Kansas City fiberglass manufacturing firm, Gustin-Bacon, to direct their product development department. Jack returned to architectural practice in 1968, when he joined HTK Architects in Topeka. He later became a partner in the firm. Jack also worked for Kiene & Bradley Architects in Topeka. During three decades of his professional practice, Jack was proud to have participated in the design and construction of many public school buildings throughout Kansas.

Jack retired in 1989. He and Jody moved to Hollister, MO, living there until 1997, then returning to Topeka to be near family.

Jack will be remembered for his kind and gentle manner, his quick wit and his great sense of humor. He loved his family and friends, history, the arts, and a good cartoon. Jack was an accomplished artist and enjoyed drawing caricatures and sculpting. He enjoyed building model airplanes and anything related aviation. Jack earned his pilot’s license at a young age and flying was his passion. In later years, he spent Saturdays for three glorious years, working with his flying buddies in Junction City, to restore his Piper J-3 Cub to mint condition.

Jack was a member of the American Institute of Architects, the Experimental Aircraft Association, Flint Hills Flyers, Westminster Presbyterian Church, and was a founding member of the Topeka chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute.

Jack and Jody raised three children, Judith, Jennifer and John. Jack was a devoted husband, a wonderful and involved father and grandfather. His greatest joy was spending time with Jody and his children, grandchildren and his great-granddaughter. Jack was predeceased by his parents, his brother, William A. Hankammer, his daughter, Judith Hankammer in 1993. His greatest sorrow was the loss of his dear daughter, Judy.

Jack is survived by his wife, Joan; daughter, Jennifer Haugh (Dennis), Topeka; and son, John Veatch Hankammer (Lisa Robinson), Woodland Hills, CA. Jack is also survived by three grandchildren, Justin Haugh (Laura), San Francisco, CA; Megan Haugh León (Juan Ignacio), Olathe, KS; Kathryn Haugh Kitchens (Tyler), Dallas, TX; and great-granddaughter, Sofia León.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 6, 2014, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1275 SW Boswell, Topeka, KS, 66604. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Kansas State University, College of Architecture, KSU Foundation, 2323 Anderson Ave., Suite 500, Manhattan, KS, 66502 or Westminster Presbyterian Church. Penwell-Gabel Southwest Chapel is assisting the family. To leave a memory or special message for the family online, please click the "Share Memories" button above.