A funeral service for Kenneth Eugene “Short” Hanks, 80, was held at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, at the Covenant Lutheran Church in Wheatland with Pastor Joshua Bruns officiating. Inurnment was at the Wheatland Cemetery.
Short Hanks passed away Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, at the Platte County Legacy Home in Wheatland.
Short was born Thursday, Sept. 30, 1937, in Torrington, the son of C. Harvey and Ruth (Hayes) Hanks. One of six children and the youngest boy, Short was raised in the Laramie Mountains where he attended the rural school until starting the fourth grade in Wheatland. He went on to play football and graduate from Wheatland High School, while living and working summers up on the mountain with his father and brothers at Hanks & Sons Sawmill.
Short married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Lofing, in 1959. They began their married life together at the family sawmill, having three boys, before moving to town in 1965. He worked road construction, helping to build Highway 34 and Interstate 25, before starting Hanks’ Tree Service in 1967. His children remember cutting down and trimming many, many trees with Dad, as well as building and remodeling several homes in Wheatland before settling in to the property on Palmer Canyon Road. Short and Dorothy sold the tree service in 1996 and started Hanks Countertops, building hundreds of kitchens together in homes and businesses across southeast Wyoming, before retiring in 2010.
Short loved elk hunting with his family, snowmobiling with Dorothy, and fishing for halibut and salmon in Alaska with his sons. He enjoyed morning coffee with his friends, and was known for his stories. Kenny will be especially missed by his great-grandson Cameron, whom he helped raise, and to whom he passed on his love for black Labradors.
Short is survived by his wife, Dorothy Hanks, of Wheatland; sons Jerry (Linda) Hanks, of Brigham City, Utah, Tim Hanks, of Wheatland, and John (Suzi) Hanks, of Hitchcock, Texas; grandson Dustin Hanks, of Texas; great-grandsons Cameron Hanks, of Wheatland, and Dylan Hanks, of Houston; brother Arnold “Tuff” Hanks, of Wheatland; sister Marilyn Garrett, of Garrett; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Serving as urn bearer was Torey Hanks. Honorary pallbearers were Andy Garrett, Rex Hanks and Tyler Hanks.
A memorial to the Platte County Legacy Home, 100 19th St., Wheatland, WY 82201 would be appreciated by the family.
The Gorman Funeral Homes – Platte Chapel of Wheatland is in charge of the arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gormanfh.com.
