Hank Balle, the son of Henry, Sr. and Mildred (Wilson) Balle, was born March 18, 1915 in Tarkio, Missouri.

Hank graduated from Tarkio High School, where he was a letterman in football. He then attended Tarkio College. On February 17, 1939, Hank was united in marriage to Margaret Elizabeth Parrish in her home in Craig, Missouri. This union was blessed with a daughter, Mary Kay. They made their home in Tarkio together until Margaret passed away on February 15, 2005.

Hank worked for Pratt-Whitney in Kansas City, Missouri as an aviation mechanic. From February 1945 to March 1946, he served aboard the aircraft carrier, the USS Cowpens, which was the first carrier into Tokyo Bay at the time of the Japanese surrender. He was able to watch the surrender ceremony on the USS Missouri from the deck of the USS Cowpens. After the war, Hank returned to Tarkio, where he operated a gas station and bulk oil plant selling Sinclair products. After selling the station, he worked for the Eaton Corporation in Shenandoah, Iowa from 1973 until his retirement in 1980.

Hank spent his entire life serving and supporting the Tarkio Christian Church, where he served as an elder and on the church board. He served his hometown of Tarkio as a North Alderman, as well as Commander of the Allen-Schiffern American Legion Post #199, where he was a member for over 60 years. Fishing was Hank’s great love, and he also enjoyed flying and skeet shooting.

Besides his parents and his wife, Margaret, Hank was preceded in death by his brother, Wilton Morrell Balle. Survivors include his daughter, Kay Pierce and her husband, Roger, Arlington, Texas; two granddaughters, Dawn Young and her husband, Clint, Austin, Texas and Denise Adams and her husband, David, Arlington; great granddaughter, Lillith (Lilly) Young, of Austin; a cousin, Frances Lee and her husband, Richard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Graveside Service and Interment: 10:30 am, Monday, April 27, 2009 at Home Cemetery, Tarkio.
Open visitation will begin after 9:00 am, Sunday, April 26, 2009 with the family receiving friends from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.
Memorials: Tarkio Nutrition Center or the Allen-Schiffern American Legion Post #199, Tarkio.
Services are under the direction of Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.