Rev. Joseph Ray Hankla

CARBONDALE – Rev. Joseph Ray Hankla, 91, passed away on Sunday, January 2, 2022 at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.



Joseph was born Mary 25, 1930 in Union County to Amos and Opal (Williams) Hankla, He married Viola Mae Clayton on September 16, 1949. She preceded him in death on May 22, 2018.



Joe was a United Methodist Pastor for 42 years serving in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. He served beginning at New Salem and Beverly Charge, 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 U.S., The Hispanic Ministry at Cobden, IL., and volunteering at First United Methodist, Carbondale, IL. Joe’s 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 Alabama; 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; parents; brothers, Amos Hankla, Robert Wayne Hankla, Harold Dean Hankla; sisters, Juanita Daume and Martha War; brothers-in-law, William C. “Bill” Bird, Claude Mays, Charles Daume, Verdus Ray Stokes; and nieces, Brenda Smith and Debra Branagan.



Services for Joe will be 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at Jesus es el Senor United Methodist Church in Cobden with Rev. John Annable officiating. Burial will follow in Anna City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the church.



Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church in Carbondale, Little Grassy Methodist Camp, Hispanic Ministries of Cobden, or Midwest Mission Distribution Center.



Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale is in charge of arrangements. To leave a story or memory of Joe visit www.meredithfh.com.