Obituaries

Henry Carl "Hank" Nonnemacher

Photo of Henry Carl "Hank" Nonnemacher
Henry Carl "Hank" Nonnemacher passed away at the age of 53 years. Hank was a resident of Alma, Ark. He departed this life on July 29, 2016 at home after battling cancer-–small cell carcinoma of the prostate and lymph nodes. Hank was born on Nov. 25, 1962 in Van Buren, Ark., to Bruce "Dutch" Nonnemacher and Margaret Altha Hunter-Nonnemacher. He grew up in and around many rural communities in Crawford County to include Cedarville, Natural Dam, and Uniontown, as well as residing within the city of Van Buren. As a child, Hank was quite the handful, and was often caught up in some sort of mischief with his sisters, cousins and young uncles. As a child, and throughout his life, Hank never really met a stranger, and always had many friends. His greatest passion throughout his childhood (as well as the rest of his life) was basketball. Hank had two daughters with his first wife, Della Garrett-Nonnemacher, and two more daughters with his second wife, Kimberly Wingate-Graham. Hank married his wife, Laura Lewis, on May 3, 2006 in Ozark, Ark. Hank and Laura took guardianship of two very special children during their 10-year marriage: one precocious young man, and one gregarious young lady. Hank has always felt extremely blessed to have had six beautiful, talented and successful children. When asked by any of his children if they were his "favorite," he always replied: "You're in the top six." Hank said he wanted to make sure that all of his children know that he loves them to the moon and back. Hank worked for Gerber Products of Fort Smith for over 27 years. He was friendly to everyone, and had a large group of friends in the workplace. He always had a smile on his face and a joke to tell. He was fun, playful and lighthearted. Hank believed that a sense of humor was the secret to life. Hank was rarely ever serious, and practical jokes were his lifeblood. He loved all of his friends, and expressed his affection for them through a constant barrage of teasing. Hank was also employed part-time for Bost, Inc. for over eight years. He worked in the community with adults with developmental disabilities, and helped improve their quality of life. Hank was an avid golfer from the age of 32. His penchant for golf often left little money for the other luxuries of life, which earned him the nickname "Tin Cup," after the fictitious movie character played by Kevin Costner. Hank would rather eat bologna and hot dogs seven days a week so that he could have the best golf clubs money could buy, and memberships to at least three golf courses each year. More than the love of golf, he loved his golfing buddies – some were friends and some were relatives. He considered his greatest golfing achievements to be his three holes-in-one, and his winning the John Daily rock trophy one year at the "Branson Brawl." He would also assert that his three virtual reality holes-in-one at A to Z Sports counted as well, insisting that he had in fact had a total of six hole-in-ones in his lifetime. Hank was a man of many talents. His wife, Laura, was very surprised about seven years ago to come home and find Hank painting a beautiful work of art in their kitchen. He had never disclosed that he was an artist. As a youth, Hank had demonstrated his artistic talents, but had abandoned this hobby as he became busy with work and family life. Once he began again, he rediscovered his love of art, and began painting on a regular basis. While his preference was oil on canvas, he soon discovered graffiti and "spray can" art. He was a self-taught, natural artist, but began taking some art classes from Patricia Lappin of Fort Smith in order to refine his skills. Anyone who knew Hank knew of his love of art. He often shared his art with others, and especially liked to provide free demonstrations of his spray can art to youth. He did several demonstrations for schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, and church youth groups. Hank taught art and held an art contest for adults with disabilities served by Bost, Inc. in 2008. In 2009, Hank was a featured artist in an exhibit at the Crawford County Center for Arts and Education. Henry "Hank" Nonnemacher is survived by his wife, Laura Lewis of Alma, Ark.; his daughter, Jennifer Nonnemacher-Bell and son-in-law, Clayton Bell of Fort Smith, Ark.; his daughter, Jaynie Nonnemacher and her fiancé, Aubrey Barnes of Kibler, Ark.; his daughter Mariah Nonnemacher of London, England; his daughter, Miranda Nonnemacher of Alma, Ark.; his adopted daughter, Tiffany Gunter of Fort Smith, Ark.; his nephew, Ashton Lewis of Alma, Ark.; his grandsons, Kobe Blount and Levi Carl Nonnemacher of Kibler, Ark.; his grandson, Oliver Nonnemacher of Alma, Ark.; his granddaughter, Sadie Bell of Fort Smith, Ark., his parents, Bruce and Margaret Nonnemacher of Vilonia, Ark.; his sister, Elaine Shaw and brother-in-law, Rodney Shaw of Natural Dam, Ark.; his sister, Miriam Christine Cowles and brother-in-law, James Cowles of Van Buren, Ark.; his sister, Glenda Swaim and brother-in-law, Earl Swaim of Cedarville, Ark.; his sister, Sherri Mezouari of Little Rock, Ark.; his sister, Tishe Davis of Morrilton, Ark.; his adopted brother, John Morey of Fort Smith, Ark.; his adopted brother, Gary Elam, of Alma, Ark.; his aunt and uncle Gail and Floyd Harlow of Muldrow, Okla.; his aunt Fannie Bell Chisom of Vilonia, Ark.; his uncle Wally Nonnemacher of Belton, Texas; his cousin, Pam Gower and her husband, Richard Gower of Hereford, Penn.; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends who are too numerous to mention, but all equally as dear to Hank's heart. Hank is also survived by a very special group of family members: his aunt Dorothy Glover of El Paso, Ark.; his uncle Ralph Hunter and his wife Lisa Hunter of Vilonia, Ark.; his cousin, Bobby Glover and his wife Tara Glover of Vilonia, Ark.; his cousin Mary Bronson and her husband Jason Bronson of El Paso, Ark.; his cousin Dustin Smith and his wife Megan Smith of Vilonia, Ark.; his cousin Miranda Sweeney and her husband Tom Sweeney of Van Buren, Ark.; and his niece Sara Gibson and her husband Bradley Gibson of Uniontown, Ark. Hank was predeceased by some very special family members: his son, Jesse Nonnemacher of Van Buren, Ark.; his paternal grandparents, Carl and Miriam Nonnemacher of Bethlehem, Penn.; his maternal grandparents, Henry and Elizabeth Hunter of Uniontown, Ark.; his uncle J.T. Glover of El Paso, Ark.; his uncle Jimmy Hunter of El Paso, Ark.; and aunt Martha Clark of Vilonia, Ark. Visitation will be held at Ocker Funeral Home on Monday Aug. 1, 2016 From 6-8 p.m. 917 U.S. 64 East, Alma. A Celebration of Life service will be held in honor of Henry "Hank" Nonnemacher at Ocker Funeral Home in Alma, Ark., on Aug. 2, 2016 at 2 p.m. with reception to follow for all friends and family at Freedom Valley Free Will Baptist Church, 1710 Old Freedom Drive, Alma, Ark., with cremation to follow under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home Alma. There will be no graveside service. There will be a monument placed for Hank at the Uniontown Cemetery in Uniontown, Ark. Hank wants to thank all his family and friends for the constant love and support they provided throughout his lifetime, and especially while he was ill. Hank said that he has the best friends and family in the whole world. He also wants to say a special thanks to all the nurses and technicians from Sparks Oncology, Sixth Floor West, and the doctors and nurses of Sparks Urology and Peachtree Hospice. Also, many thank yous to Brooke Carver. Finally, Hank wants to say a special thank you to Bost, Inc. Memorial donations in Hank's honor may be made to the Bost Foundation at 1801 South 74th Street in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Hank said that he wanted his final parting message to be: "Here today, gone tomorrow – sorry you missed me!" Then he laughed and said, "No, I'm just kidding. Be sure to tell everyone how much I loved them, and tell them to always laugh and be happy. Tell them to celebrate my life. Online tributes may be made at www.ockerfuneralhome.com.

Published July 31, 2016

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