JEROME JOHN HAKE 1/13/1927 - 10/13/2015

Born in a farmhouse near Montrose, Missouri on the coldest day in the history of Henry County to Herman Henry Hake and Clara Kaumans Hake, who had five children:  Harold, Jerome ("Jerry"), Maryan, David, and Arthur.

Volunteered at 17, following the footsteps of his older brother Harold, and served courageously in the Pacific Theater with the U.S. Marines.  The smartest member of his company (based on military test scores), he volunteered to learn Japanese to do the incredibly dangerous job of trying to talk enemy soldiers out of bunkers.  He was later a Captain in the U.S. Air Force reserves.

Graduated from the prestigious Georgetown University Foreign Service School in Washington, D.C.  He later earned a Master's in Computer Science.

In 1950 he married Margaret Arbuckle of Washington, D.C., who was born on the hottest day in the history of the city.  They had three sons: Bruce, Gordon, and Robert.  She died in 1984.  In 1985 he married Margaret Small of South Carolina.

Mr. Hake had a distinguished career in federal government service.  He then spent many years as a computer scientist with several large defense companies.  He was employed into his late 70s.

When his son Robert was killed in police custody in 1977, he spent many months, after a full day of work, to make a two-hour drive to the nearest law school library to make himself a lawyer and finally to win the case. See http://www.leagle.com/decision/198540098NJ302_1372/HAKE%20v.%20MANCHESTER%20TP.  That's an incredible achievement.

A humble and upright man, he was always a faithful Roman Catholic.  In his retirement he worked tirelessly as a volunteer, such as giving comfort to people in hospice care.  He had to stop that work only after going blind from macular degeneration.

He is survived by his son Bruce Anthony Hake and wife Judy Hake of Union Bridge, Maryland; his wife Margaret Small Hake of Conway, South Carolina and her daughters Beverly Jacobs and Sally Small; his siblings Harold Hake and Maryan Jones of Kansas City, Missouri; and by many other relatives.

Mass of Christian Burial: 200 p.m. Wednesday, October 21stat Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Montrose, MO with visitation from 1:00-2:00 p.m. prior to the service.

Burial:  St. Ludgers Cemetery, Germantown, MO.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Catholic Charities or Catholic Relief Services.

A service of Inman Ward Funeral Home of Tabor City.

 Service Information