Jack W. Hannah

ELKHART -- Dr. Jack W. Hannah, 92, of Elkhart, died at 7:45 a.m. Monday (Nov. 24, 2008) in Hubbard Hill Estates.

He was born Jan. 20, 1916, in Rising Sun to William and Jessie (Miller) Hannah. On Dec. 3, 1971, he married Marian R. Packer in Elkhart.

She survives along with two sons, James D. (Nancy) Hannah of Elkhart and Steve (Denise) Packer of Columbus; one daughter, Kathy S. Packer of Elkhart; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one daughter, Judy Haldeman, and one brother, Robert Hannah.

Dr. Hannah graduated from Hanover College and Indiana University School of Medicine. He entered the U.S. Public Health Service in Baltimore at the beginning of World War II. He was assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard aboard USS Gulfport as a ship's doctor. After the war, he started a family practice in Wakarusa.

He specialized in anesthesia at Elkhart General Hospital and, along with his wife, a nurse anesthetist, trained Elkhart's first EMTs. He retired in 1980 after performing more than 50,000 anesthetics.

Dr. Hannah enjoyed seeing his friends and shipmates during his retirement and telling them about his grandchildren.

A gathering of friends and family will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart. Cremation has taken place.

Memorials may be given to Bethel College School of Nursing, 1001 W. McKinley Ave., Mishawaka, IN 46545. Visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com to send online condolences.