Douglas Cook Henke

Douglas Cook Henke
June 27, 1950 ~ December 30, 2014

Our loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, and Friend, Douglas Cook Henke, passed away after battling with advanced melanoma cancer and brain tumors for seven months. He went home to his loving Heavenly Father on December 30, 2014, in Aztec, New Mexico.
He is survived by his wife, Kathleen Fitzgerald Henke, his mother, Florence Cook Henke, his six brothers and three sisters, his 12 children - Troy Douglas (Katherine) Henke (Riverton, Utah), Cherise (David) Williams (Sandy, Utah), Jonathan Bliss (Sanna) Henke (Springville, Utah), April (Corin) Kochenower (Provo, Utah), Krista (Dan) Sleight (Idaho Falls, Idaho), Heber Cecil (Boston) Henke (Flora Vista, New Mexico), Trisha (Josh) Christensen (Kirtland, New Mexico), Shantel (Jerome) Jones (Aztec, New Mexico), Richard Paul Henke (Rexburg, Idaho), Robert Fitzgerald Henke (Aztec, New Mexico), Anna Celeste (Travis) Shurtliff (Gallup, New Mexico), Cammy Kathleen (Bronson) Glazier (Aztec, New Mexico), and 33 grandchildren, as well as many individuals who lived at his home and loved his family.
Douglas was born on June 27, 1950, in Murray, Utah, to Florence and Cecil Warren Henke. He was raised on an egg ranch of 30 thousand chickens in Draper, Utah. While attending college at BYU in Utah he met his wife-to-be, dated for 3 months, and then left to fill a two-year mission for the LDS Church serving in the England Central mission. He also served a three-year mission with his wife in the Philippines.

Due to the draft during the Vietnam War, Douglas and his sweetheart, Kathleen, were married three days after he arrived home from his mission on November 5, 1971. After being home for only seven weeks, he joined the Air Force and left for basic training for six weeks. He was trained in electronics communications and served as a Crypto Equipment Systems Technician in the military for four-and-a-half years. Douglas received three associate's degrees in electronics and business as well. He and his family have lived in Texas, New Jersey, California, Philippines, Utah, Idaho and New Mexico, and have enjoyed traveling to many other countries and cities.
Douglas had a variety of occupations throughout his life. He worked for the government in procurement for the Tooele Army Depot. He also sold real estate and life insurance in Utah. For 19 years he owned and operated a family business, Snack-in-the-Box, throughout the state of New Mexico. Douglas then decided to move to Idaho and teach (his life's passion) at the American Leadership Academy for four years. After the school closed he ran his own private school, The Classics Academy, for the next four years. He also taught early morning seminary for the LDS Church for nine years while teaching school. Later he was a manager for Idaho Mattress Outlet in Pocatello, Idaho. Four the last four years Douglas managed three Mattress Outlet locations for his son Heber in Farmington, New Mexico.
He served the Lord in many capacities during his life: Stake Seventy, District Mission President in the Philippines, Branch President in Dulce, NM, three different bishoprics, High Councilman, Stake Historian, Stake Mission Leader, Scoutmaster, Young Men's President, Seminary Teacher, Sunday School President, Elders Quorum President, Primary and Sunday School teacher.
We will always honor and remember Douglas for his devotion to his family and the Church. He accepted everyone who came into the family with unconditional love.
We wish to express our heartfelt thanks for the loving support and many prayers in our behalf from all the wards, stake, and many friends from various places.

Douglas was greatly loved and will be truly missed. A viewing will be held in his honor Saturday, January 3, from 9:00-11:00am. Funeral services will begin at 11:30am at the LDS Chapel at 505 North Oliver Dr. in Aztec, New Mexico. Interment will be at the East Hammond Park Cemetery.
A meal will be served by the Aztec 2nd ward after the services for all the family and special friends.
Doug's care is entrusted to Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home, 103 East Ute St., Farmington, (505) 325-8688.