Personnel manager organized peer group

8/28/2003

Charles E. Hanneken, 89, who devoted his career - and retirement - to personnel management, died Monday in Toledo Hospital.

He had not recovered from a fall at his West Toledo home last week, said his daughter, Dr. Judith Henry.

Mr. Hanneken retired in 1974 as a personnel manager at the Surface Combustion division of Midland-Ross Corp., where he worked since 1945. His responsibilities included union negotiations.

“It was a challenge, and it was very worthwhile,” his daughter said. “Everything was on a professional level. They were tough negotiations on both sides, but after they were over, everyone got along.”

He worked for Toledo Employment Services from 1974 to 1979.

Mr. Hanneken was a founder in the late 1970s of Pioneer Personnel Administrators of Toledo. He was the group's only president, and he and other corporate personnel managers met once each month - most recently Aug. 8.

“As they all retired, they stayed together because they had a common interest,” his daughter said.

Mr. Hanneken was a graduate of Waite High School and received a bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Toledo. He attended UT law school.

His work during World War II for the former American Propeller Co. earned him two meritorious service awards from the Office of Price Administration.

Mr. Hanneken and his wife, Helen, married Aug. 27, 1937. She died in November, 1970.

Surviving are his daughter, Dr. Judith C. Henry; son, James C. Hanneken, and a granddaughter.

The body will be in the Walker Funeral Home after 2 p.m. tomorrow. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Mark's Episcopal Church, of which he was a former vestry clerk. The family suggests tributes to the University of Toledo Alumni Association or Shriners Hospital.