POLO — Robert J. Haneke, 80, of Polo, passed away surrounded by his family, Monday, November 12, 2018, at Select Specialty Hospital of South Dakota in Sioux Falls.
Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 17, at St. Liborius Catholic Church in Polo with Father Christopher Hughes, celebrant. Burial with military honors will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery at Polo.  A wake service will begin at 7 p.m., Friday, November 16, at St. Liborius Church in Polo.
Robert J. Haneke was born June 22, 1938, to Fredrick and Elizabeth (Kriener) Haneke on the family farm near Orient, S.D.  He attended St. Liborius School at Polo.
On February 10, 1965, Bob married Barbara Jean Bucher and to this union, eight children were born: Theresa, Leo, Ron, Natalie, Ray, Jim, Jon, and Joe. Later, Dean Schlechter joined the family. On June 22, 2002, he married Janet Lee (Kempf) Ellsworth. They made their home in Polo until moving to Hartford and later Sioux Falls.
Bob had many different ventures throughout his life. He farmed, co-owned and operated K&H Processing with his good friends Verlin and Lucille Kolda, and later owned the Polo Store where his people skills and personality really shined. Haneke Dairy was the next venture and finally Pheasant Tail Farms which later became Flying J Outfitters; working with his sons.  He was known at the pheasant lodge as the bus driver, cook, handyman, and was the all-around entertainment director for over a decade. The hunters all loved Bob.  
Bob was a lifetime member of St. Liborius Catholic Church and his faith was very important to him. He was a member of National Guard as well as proud member of the Polo American Legion, which was a true source of pride and joy to him.  In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, singing, and playing the organ, accordion, and piano all by ear. He provided the musical entertainment at the Ponderosa for years.
He and Jan loved camping with The Good Sam Club with his good friends George and Delores Wieseler and many others. Owning and piloting his own plane with the CB handle “Yellow Bird Base,” brought one of the longest-running, greatest pleasures of his life taught by his dear friend, Jim Kinney. Later, he enjoyed time spent flying and visiting with Ray Zemilicka. He knew he was loved and blessed with his family and to spend his life on his farm.
His memory will be cherished by his children and grandchildren: Theresa Schlechter and Dean Schlechter and children: Taylor and Callie; Leo Haneke; Ron (Nicole) Haneke and children: Nathan, Ashley, and Jessica; Natalie (Brian) Bertsch and children: Colin, Brianne, and Connor; Ray (Olga) Haneke and son: Dyllun; Jim (Jessica) Haneke and children: Justin, Ty, Colton, Jersey, Dillon, and Hadley; Jon (Jessica) Haneke and children: Rylan, Braden, and Morgan; Joe Haneke; Gloria (Ron) Weidmann, William (Michelle) Ellsworth, Brenda (Mark) Johnson, and Gary (Julie) Ellsworth; grandchildren: Rory Ross (Jacalyn), Casey (Laiken) Wiedmann, Stephanie (Nick) Fisher, Grand Richard Ellsworth, Cody Ellsworth, Lindsey Sandell (Andy Dietrich), Kirsten (Harvard) Taylor, Kyle (Lexi) Fickes, Chelsey Ellsworth, and Gillian Ellsworth; great-grandchildren: Reese, Reeve, Logan, Lukas, Paisley, Phoenix, Lennon, Braylon, Gabriel, Kylie, and Mila; one brother-in-law, Leo “Doc” Froning; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Janet; children’s mother, Bobbi Jean Haneke; and siblings, Ben (Dena) Haneke, Elfrieda (Gerald) Martinmaas, and Lucy Froning.
Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Bob’s arrangements.  
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