Hans Hemkes Jr., known for his gentle nature, passed away on Oct. 17, 2014, at his home in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He was born in Mexico City, Mexico on Oct. 23, 1924, to Celia Maria Narro and Hans Hemkes Beltran.
Hans married Dorothy Aldred in 1947, and graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, in 1948.
He was employed by the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. from 1948 to 1952 and represented the company in Mexico. In 1955, he founded Constructora Beltran with his father in Mexico City. Its purpose was to build schools and highways throughout Mexico.
In 1970, the family moved to San Diego, California, where he had a partnership with Grubb and Ellis Real Estate Company, known as Grubb and Ellis De Mexico.
In 1975, Hans and Dorothy moved to Brunswick, Maine, where Hans was the director of Development for the Maine State Housing Authority. In 1978, he formed V and H Development in Portland, Maine, with James Van Vakias, a company dedicated to building subsidized housing projects in Maine and New Hampshire.
Hans and his wife retired to Las Cruces, New Mexico, in 2000.
There will be a service held on Oct. 24, 2014, at 10 a.m. at Kendrick Chapel, Saint Andrews Episcopal Church, 518 N. Alameda St., Las Cruces, New Mexico. Instead of flowers, please make a donation to your preferred charity.
Surviving Hans is his wife Dorothy, children, Hans Hemkes III, Ellen Addison Hemkes, Elizabeth Hemkes Bennett and four grandchildren, Hans Hemkes IV, Fernando Hemkes, Sarah and Coston Bennett.
Arrangements were entrusted to La Paz-Grahams Funeral Home, 555 W. Amador Ave., Las Cruces, New Mexico.
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