- Date Of Birth: June 13, 1945
- Date Of Death: February 23, 2020
- State: Idaho
John Francis Hanek of Idaho Falls, ID passed away on February 23, 2020, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. John was born on June 13, 1945, in Lena, WI. He was the youngest of six children born to John Francis Hanek and Viroca Rose (George) Hanek. His father passed away three months before he was born. He was fortunate to have an extremely strong influence from his mother who did her best to keep him on the straight and narrow path through his formative years.
He grew up on the family farm near Spruce, WI, attended Spruce Grade School and graduated from Oconto Falls High School in 1963. He Enlisted in the U.S. Navy in January, 1964, and was accepted into the Navy Nuclear Power Training Program. Upon completion of Nuclear Power Training and Submarine School he was assigned to the Gold Crew of the USS Nathanael Greene (SSBN- 636) in 1966. He completed six submarine deterrent patrols and in 1969, was assigned to the Nuclear Power Training Unit near Idaho Falls, ID, for instructor duty. He received an honorable discharge from active duty in January 1973, and continued his Navy career in the Navy Reserves, retiring as a Chief Petty Officer in 1985.
He spent his entire career working in the Nuclear Power, industry, working at Duane Arnold Nuclear Station in Iowa, Susquehanna Nuclear Station in Pennsylvania, Hope Creek Nuclear Station in New Jersey, and at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). He was certified by the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) as an Operator Licensing Examiner and conducted NRC operator licensing exams for 13 years at over 30 Commercial Nuclear Power Stations. He retired from the INL in 2007 and starting in 2009 took on several consulting assignments for Epsilon Systems Solutions retiring again in 2016.
He was an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers, loved any outdoor activity, snowmobiling, ATV riding and boating.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Mary Ann; daughter, Teresa Bruun (Tim); granddaughter, Tasha Bruun; sisters, Beryl Meyer (Jerry), Marlene Seefeldt (Arvid), and Lanore Wyent (Jerry); brother-in-laws, George Rathsack (Betty) and Bob Rathsack (Connie); and sister-in-law, Betty Harrison (Don).
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Ione (Dickie) Bitters; brother, Ronald (Peanuts) Hanek; and brother-in-law, Arlyn Bitters (Pokie).
