COLERAIN TWP. — Bernerd W. “Ben” Henke, a retired patrol captain with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, died of an apparent heart attack at his home Friday. He was 71.

        Capt. Henke served with the Sheriff's Department for 31 years before retiring in 1982. A firearms expert, he had been a firearms instructor in addition to patrolling the county.

        He was also a successful entrepreneur, running a string of businesses that included the Police Products Gun Dealership, H&H Waste Services and Kenred Auto Repair, according to his daughter, Jeannette Humphries of White Oak.

        His last venture was Forest Green Metals and Recycling. Opened in 1989, it remains a thriving family business in Forest Park that employs several of his children.

        Capt. Henke was born in Cincinnati in 1930 and grew up in the Fairmount area. He graduated from the FBI National Academy.

        Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Marian; five sons, Bernie of Grant's Lick, Ky., Ron of Destin, Fla., Ken of White Oak, Tom of Okeana and Randy Henke of Colerain Township; four daughters, Vickie Dorsey of Finneytown, Jeannette Humphries of White Oak, Sharon Simmons of Fairfield and Amy Melton of Pleasant Run; a brother, Don Henke of Cheviot; 16 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

        Mass of Christian burial is at 10 a.m. today at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 2014 Springdale Road in New Burlington. Burial follows at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Montgomery.

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