Henry “Hank” E. Sleeth III

February 19, 2017

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Henry “Hank” E. Sleeth III, 65, of Forest, Ind., died at 11:56 a.m. February 19, 2017 unexpectedly at his home.  Born April 9, 1951 in Frankfort, Ind. to the late Henry E. Sleeth II & Margaret Jean (Reppert) Sleeth Stinson.  He married Karen Erb on November 7, 1969 in Howard County, Ind. and she survives.  Hank attended Frankfort schools and was a 1969 graduate of Clinton Central High School.  He had lived in Indianapolis from 1969-2015 before moving to Forest.  He retired from AT&T after 31 years, then worked 7 years at Eli Lilly in Indianapolis.    Hank attended the Forest United Methodist Church.  He enjoyed playing the harmonica and blues music.  Hank worked tirelessly for the Republican Party at the grassroots level as precinct committeeman and ward chairman.

Visitation and Services

Visitation will be from 12 Noon-2 p.m. Thursday, February 23, 2017 at Goodwin Funeral Home. Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Green Lawn Memorial Park. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association or F.A.C.E. low cost Animal Clinic, envelopes will be available.

Survived by:

Wife: Karen Sleeth of rural Forest, 2 Sisters: Joan (Dan) Davis of Greenwood, MaryAnn (Dave) Finlay of Boulder, Colorado, Mother-in-Law: Juanita Erb of Russiaville, 3 Sisters-in-Law: Joyce (Rick) Kelly of Burlington, Jenny Erb of Kokomo, Marilyn (Bill) Erb-Carlson of Kokomo, 5 Brothers-in-Law: Bob Erb of Russiaville, Darrall (Lori) Erb of Russiaville, Junior (Linda) Erb of Russiaville, Raymond Erb of Avon, Scott (Wendy) Erb of Frankfort, His faithful cat companion, “Big Handsome Tom”, and several nieces & nephews also survive.

Memorial Video

Click on the video below to play.

Condolences

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38 Condolences for “Henry “Hank” E. Sleeth III”

  1. Lori Erb February 20, 2017 at 5:17 pm

    What a huge loss for our family. Love and prayers to Karen.

    Reply
  2. Joy Lebo February 20, 2017 at 6:10 pm

    Many prayers are with you Karen and family. So sorry, Hank will be missed. Thinking of you. Love Joy Lebo

    Reply
  3. Robert Robertson February 20, 2017 at 6:14 pm

    I have known the Sleeth family for many years and they were all good people .Henry 111 was in Clinton Central High school with my children . Condolences to Henry s family and friends .

    Reply
  4. Donna Erb February 20, 2017 at 6:42 pm

    So sorry for your loss Karen
    Henry was a good man and he will be missed by all that had the opportunity to know him.
    Love and Prayers to you and the Family.

    Reply
  5. Wendy Erb February 20, 2017 at 7:04 pm

    Praying for you Karen so sorry

    Reply
  6. Mary Dean February 20, 2017 at 7:34 pm

    Karen, Joan and Family
    So sorry for your sudden loss in a loving husband & wonderful brother.
    You are in our prayers.

    Reply
  7. Brenda Spray February 20, 2017 at 7:36 pm

    It was a pleasure reacquainting with Hank at church. I knew him from high school days. Please know that we are thinking of you and praying for your family.

    Reply
  8. Norma Hoover February 20, 2017 at 8:18 pm

    So very sorry for this loss. Love and prayers sent

    Reply
  9. Kelli Beretta February 20, 2017 at 8:18 pm

    Karen , we are so saddened of the loss of Hank. He was such a good person and a great friend. There’s going to be a giant hole in our lives but I’m comforted knowing that he will be looking down on us from heaven. We love both of you very much. Kelli, Matt, Erin, and Barb

    Reply
  10. Carol Shoaf February 20, 2017 at 8:49 pm

    Karen my thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. Hank was an awesome guy and I have a lot of wonderful memories of him. RIP Hank. Hugs and Love to you all.

    Reply
  11. Elaine Walker February 20, 2017 at 9:01 pm

    So very sorry for your loss. May God bless you Karen Joan, and your entire family. Hank is with his family in heaven.

    Reply
  12. Ed click February 21, 2017 at 4:56 am

    Praying for you, your family, and friends. May God look over you as you go forward with this loss of a love one, that will be truly missed.

    Reply
  13. Sherry Stinson Reef February 21, 2017 at 8:27 am

    So sorry Joan for the loss of your brother. Our thoughts are with you.

    Reply
  14. Ken Hall February 21, 2017 at 10:38 am

    Hank was a very blessed man, he married his soulmate, Karen, helped raise some special cats. He worked two main jobs that he loved & planned & built their Dream House, with Karen’s help. Despite the fact his life was short,………it was Full ! May God Bless you on your journey and may you also rest in peace.

    Reply
  15. Sallie Garvin February 21, 2017 at 1:04 pm

    What a shock this was to all……..You are in my prayers Karen and your family. RIP Hank.

    Reply
  16. Dave Young February 21, 2017 at 4:57 pm

    Hank you will be greatly missed and I am glad we were able to reconnect. My prayers go out to the family for peace and strength during this time.

    Reply
  17. Rita Kelley Kvakovszky February 21, 2017 at 6:08 pm

    I am so sorry for your loss. Hank will be missed by many he was such a good kind man.

    Reply
  18. Lee Reno February 21, 2017 at 8:08 pm

    Hank, your life has been filled with many joys and you have accomplished much. You were a man who loved to do for others and whatever endeavors you started, you completed well. A man of many talents. Your work on Earth is complete and God has called you home to work for him. You will be missed by your wife Karen and your family. I know they are so thankful for having you in their lives. RIP my friend.

    Reply
  19. Cristi McGill February 22, 2017 at 8:08 am

    Karen and family, I almost fell out of my chair this morning as I read the sad news. I am in shock and so very sorry. Hank was a character. I will never forget the day I met him. It’s a long story, but it was Halloween in a class at 5737 and the guy brought a rubber rat. You can imagine the rest. He was a hoot and he was a great friend and he was one heck of a programmer and….oh so many things. I am devastated and deeply sorry for your loss.

    Reply
  20. Sarah Bowles February 22, 2017 at 8:22 am

    So sorry to hear about Hank. We worked together at AT&T. We just recently became friends on Facebook.
    He was a Wonderful, Special person. He always had a smile on his face and was willing to help anyone that needed it. He will be missed by all that knew him. However Heaven has a new Angel RIP

    Reply
  21. LyndaEilson February 22, 2017 at 8:44 am

    Karen, So very sorry for your loss. I will keep you in my prayers. Hank was a great person and made my time at work so very possible.
    Lynda

    Reply
  22. Lynn Watson February 22, 2017 at 3:49 pm

    Karen,
    I am so sorry for your loss.

    Reply
  23. Family of Frances Stalker Lee February 22, 2017 at 4:10 pm

    Sincere condolences to our Cousins. Your Mother, Jean, with her 3 children (Joan, Mary Ann, and Henry) and my parents, Floyd and Mary Reppert Stalker, with 4 children (David, Frances, Steven, Eileen) enjoyed visits both Frankfort and Westfield in our “growing up” years. In later years occasional short visits were made when time permitted. We do think about you as you have a special place in our hearts. Love and God bless. Video is a wonderful tribute to Henry.

    Reply
  24. Tom Thorpe February 22, 2017 at 6:01 pm

    i am so sorry to hear this. My mom is very sad, she always enjoyed hearing from you all at Christmas. She said my dad thought the world of both of you.

    Reply
  25. Cathy Crane Loudd February 22, 2017 at 6:53 pm

    Karen I am so sorry to hear of Hank’s passing. He was always so energetic and had a smile on his face. I only got to know him when he came to the 5th floor to visit you at work. You are in my thoughts and prayers. May God comfort you and give your heart peace.

    Reply
  26. Patricia Pund February 22, 2017 at 7:59 pm

    I was surprised to learn of Hank’s passing this week. I had the pleasure of working with Hank, John Oliver, and Tom in the 4th floor computer room on the “night shift” at Ind. Bell, Ameritech, Sbc, At&t. Hank was such a happy, calming spirit when things got “crazy”. I always enjoyed his stories describing his love of decorating for Halloween. He enjoyed life with such passion, especially when he could enjoy it with you, Karen. When he talked about you, he lit up with so much love. I don’t remember ever hearing an unkind or harsh word from him. That says a lot about the kind of man he was. I lost track of the “night crew” after transferring to days and working for John Nelson in CCTAC. I will remember him fondly and you in my prayers. A truly beautiful spirit has passed into God’s arms. My love and prayers to you and your family as we remember Hank in our hearts and memories always.

    Reply
  27. Diana Myers February 22, 2017 at 8:23 pm

    Karen so sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

    Reply
  28. Mary Musters February 22, 2017 at 8:57 pm

    Karen, I am so sorry to hear about Hank’s passing. I was lucky to run into him many times after he came to Lilly – kinda like an “old home” visit. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

    Reply
  29. Diane M. Reed February 22, 2017 at 9:29 pm

    To Karen Sleeth, you have my deepest sympathy on the loss of your beloved Hank. Anything I can do for you let me know. I know you will miss him.
    Diane M. Reed.

    Reply
  30. Helen Alexander February 23, 2017 at 8:59 am

    Karen,
    I am so sorry to learn of Hank’s sudden passing. You will be in my thoughts
    and prayers and if there is anything I can do, please let me know. I am
    sorry too that I lost contact with you guys since your move. When things
    calm down some please give me a call, 317-791-0294 so we can catch up.
    Love, Helen (Murray) Alexander

    Reply
  31. Dave & Susie Mahlke February 23, 2017 at 9:39 am

    So sorry for your lost. Hank was a super great guy.  Susie and I are praying for you and your family. He will be greatly missed.

    Reply
  32. Bo Tan February 23, 2017 at 10:55 am

    It was wonderful time to work with Hank. He is a simple and pleasant man with excellent work skills. He supported our work with no complain no matter how difficult and strange our requests were. No bureaucracy at all. Every day we missed him since his retirement. Now I will miss him forever.

    Reply
  33. Chris Anderson February 23, 2017 at 11:06 am

    Karen,

    Hank will be missed by his “Lilly family”. I am pleased to have known and worked with him. He will be missed by many. We have made a donation to FACE in his name.

    Chris & Kathy Anderson

    Reply
  34. Melanie Sweezy February 23, 2017 at 9:05 pm

    I was so sorry to hear about Hank’s sudden passing. Please accept my condolences.

    Reply
  35. Eric Seest February 24, 2017 at 7:27 am

    It was a pleasure working with and getting to know Hank during his time at Eli Lilly! My thoughts and prayers are for his wife and family during this difficult time.

    Reply
  36. Herman Ward February 24, 2017 at 12:08 pm

    Karen, you are in my thoughts and prayers! I am so sorry for your loss.

    Reply
  37. Molly Seidel February 24, 2017 at 4:00 pm

    Karen,
    So sad for you. Please know you are in my prayers.
    Molly

    Reply
  38. Danny Parlett February 25, 2017 at 6:48 am

    So sorry for your loss Karen, way to soon.

    Reply

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