Rev. Joseph Ray Hankla
Rev. Joseph Ray Hankla, 91, died Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.
Rev. Hankla was born on May 25, 1930, in Union County, the son of Amos and Opal Williams Hankla.
He married Viola Mae Clayton on Sept. 16, 1949. She preceded him in death on May 22, 2018.
Rev. Hankla was a United Methodist Church pastor for 42 years, serving in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference.
He served beginning at New Salem and Beverly Charge in Jacksonville. Then, Ramsey, Christ Church, Fairview Heights, manager of Little Grassy United Methodist Camp, director of camps and conferences, Johnston City-Cedar Grove, Johnston City, Du Quoin, and retiring from Litchfield.
He began mission work: first Little Grassy Camp, nomad projects in many places in the United States, the Hispanic ministry in Cobden and volunteering at First United Methodist, Church in Carbondale. His most rewarding ministry was the Hispanic Ministry in Cobden.
He is survived by sister, Betsie Stokes of Anna; a brother, Richard (Joyce) Hankla of Decatur, Ala.; a brother-in-law, Jerrie Clayton of Anna and sisters-in-law Vurtis (Jim) Duckworth of Perks, Louise (Art Pender) Smith of Jonesboro and Carolyn Bird of Jonesboro.
He is also survived by nieces Claudia Williams, Lisa Brown, Cindy Thomas, Tammy Gulley and Becky Rogers; nephews Larry Mays, Darrell Stokes, Robert “Bob” Hankla and Scott Hankla; and many other family, friends and church members.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Viola Mae (Clayton) Hankla; his parents; brothers Amos Hankla, Robert Wayne Hankla and Harold Dean Hankla; sisters Juanita Daume and Martha War; brothers-in-law William C. “Bill” Bird, Claude Mays, Charles Daume and Verdus Ray Stokes; and nieces Brenda Smith and Debra Branagan.
Funeral services for Rev. Hankla were at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, at Jesus es el Senor United Methodist Church in Cobden, with Rev. John Annable officiating. Burial followed in Anna City Cemetery.
Memorials can be made to First United Methodist Church in Carbondale, Little Grassy Methodist Camp, Hispanic Ministries of Cobden or the Midwest Mission Distribution Center.
Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale was in charge of arrangements. To leave a story or memory, visit www.meredithfh.com.