Hobert Clifton Hankla
Hobert Clifton “Cliff” Hankla was born on Jan. 30, 1917, in Cobden, the son of Joseph and Martha Hankla.
Mr. Hankla died on July 8, 2018, in Orange, Calif.
Raised on a farm in Cobden, he was the youngest of eight siblings. Owen, Amos, Jessie, Afton, Ruby, Hiram, and Raymond preceded him in death.
He was a graduate of Cobden High School. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in education at Southern Illinois University.
He married Hazel Vaughn of Balcom on June 1, 1941. They resided in St. Louis, as well as in Detroit, Mich., before returning to Southern Illinois in 1944.
Mr. Hankla taught at Ellis School, a one-room country school, with students ages 4 to 13 years.
He taught in the Cobden School district from 1948 to 1955 at the elementary and high school level, specializing in social studies, math and science. He was also the basketball and baseball coach.
He transferred to the Anna School District, where he taught 7th grade at the junior high school and coached the basketball team.
He and the family were very active at Mt. Moriah Lutheran Church in Anna.
In 1963, a big move took place when the family traveled west to settle in Orange, Calif.
He obtained a teaching position in the Orange Unified School District at the Jordan Elementary School, where taught 6th grade. He was a dedicated educator who was less authoritarian and more of a “Partner in Learning.”
He was highly respected and received awards throughout his career. He felt that his greatest award/reward was receiving communications from prior students he taught in Illinois, as well as California, who thanked him for encouragement and building confidence in themselves.
He quoted Abraham Lincoln: “A man is about as happy as he makes up his mind to be.”
Other words of wisdom he frequently shared were Patience is Power, Satisfy Yourself, Moderation in All Things, and Pay Attention.
Cliff and Hazel opened their home in California to many visiting family members and friends over the years; as well as making frequent trips back to visit in Southern Illinois. They also traveled to Europe after retirement.
Survivors include his daughter, Beverly Thornton and son, Bill Hankla; three grandchildren, John Thornton, Andrea Rosen and Vanessa Sichmeller; 11 great-grandchildren, Abigail, Veronica, Olivia, Noah, Nicolette, Thornton, Raelene, Ethan, Lorelei, Delilah and Adam.