R.T. (Ronald Thomas) Henke (89) of Bremen, IN passed away on May 4, 2026, at Memorial Hospital in South Bend surrounded by family. R.T. was born at home on April 28, 1937, in Addison Township, IN. The son of Carl Elmer Henke and Lucile Fern (Linville) Henke. On August 20, 1961, he married Virginia “Ginny” Kay Hensler. He is survived by his three children: Susan Lynne Henke and son-in-law Martin Peter McGrath of North Andover, MA, Julie Anne Henke of Bettendorf, IA, Kristen Carol Henke of Bremen, IN, and three grandchildren: Kevin Ellis McGrath, Cameron James McGrath, and Anna Therese McGrath. R.T. is proceeded in death by his parents and sister Carla Beth (Henke) Gross. He is survived by his sisters: Lossie Marie (Henke) Laird of Shelbyville, IN, and Margaret Ann (Henke) St. Onge and her husband David Leroy St. Onge of Wilmington, MA. In 1944, R.T. moved from Addison Township, near Shelbyville, to Union Township where he attended Manilla Grade and High School. He liked to tell people he graduated in the top 10 of his class, which was his way of expressing that he graduated valedictorian among his 11 classmates. R.T. worked his way through Purdue as part of the newly established GE Co-op Program and graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He attended Yale University Divinity School for a year, on a Rockefeller Scholarship. He obtained a MS degree in Engineering at RPI as part of a work-study program with General Electric (GE) and he began his long career with Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL) at the West Milton site.

After their wedding in 1961 at St. John UCC-Woodland, IN, R.T. and Virginia moved to Schenectady, NY where they raised their family. R.T. had various roles and positions with GE. He started out working on surface ship reactor development creating and running test procedures, followed by development engineering for the KAPL reactor control rod drive mechanism group (CRDM). He spent 28 years at the KAPL Machinery Apparatus Operation (MAO) where he ultimately became the Reactor Equipment Manager, managing the build and delivery of nuclear components for ships. For a brief period of time, he moved to GE Gas Turbine where he was responsible for liquid fuel systems world-wide. He later returned to KAPL as the Manager of Nuclear Core Operations, responsible for design and manufacturing nuclear power plants for Navy submarines and surface ships and Quality Control Manager of KAPL Nuclear Navy program and the West Miton site.

R.T. has always been active in community development and volunteering. He was on the Schenectady School Board and an active member of Union Presbyterian Church. He retired in 1993 and became a full-time community volunteer. With Virigina, they dedicated themselves to creating and developing community-based programs. R.T. used his skills to fund programs through grant writing, bank loans, and community support. He focused on food, housing, education and job opportunities through programs like Better Neighborhoods, Inc (BNI President for 10 years), YouthBuild, American Corp, MCTAP, SICM, CDCLF. He was instrumental in the charter commission for Schenectady 2000 focused on the revitalization of Schenectady, where he contributed with leadership, organizing, and personally planting flowers, mowing neglected areas and painting railway bridges at the entranceways to the city.

In 1999, Virginia and R.T. moved to Bremen, IN to be near family. A large farewell dinner was held in their honor where they were presented with twin keys to the City of Schenectady and various honors and dedications in appreciation for their positive impact for 38 years of community volunteering. In Bremen, the couple dedicated the next 26 years in service to Bremen and the surrounding community. R.T. wrote many grants to fund community needs and projects such as relocating and restoring the Bremen Train Deport and managing the project for the city. He played a key role in establishing the Bremen History Center, Historic Depot Museum, the Bremen Community & Performing Arts Center, the Downtown Façade Program, and the Marshall County historic barn survey and archive. He was often a President, Treasurer, Board member, and active member of organizations including St. John United Church of Christ in Woodland, Historic Bremen, Inc (BNI), The Whitlock Senior Retirement Community, Bremen Community Cares, Bremen Kiwanis, Wythougan Valley Preservation Group, the Indiana Barn Foundation, and the Henke Family Foundation.

At home, he dedicated himself to documenting and preserving his family history. He enjoyed traveling, attending the performing arts, museums and historical sites. He liked to be productive, garden, and spend time with family and friends, often by getting them involved with work projects at home and in the community.

Memorials can be made to St. John UCC-Woodland, P.O. Box 35, Wyatt, IN 46595, Bremen History Center, P.O. Box 471, Bremen, IN 46506. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 pm, Friday, May 8, 2026, at Mishler Funeral Home, 2030 St Rd 331, Bremen. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, May 9, 2026, at St. John UCC, 63900 IN-331, Woodland with visitation at 10 am, one hour before the funeral service. Burial will follow in the St. John Cemetery. Lunch will be provided in the church. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mishlerfuneralhomes.com