Hendrik J. “Henk” Schalke, 72, a resident of Wells and formerly of Stow and Wayland, MA, died Thursday, July 20, 2017 at his residence following a courageous battle with cancer.

Henk was born June 3, 1945 in Monster, Netherlands, the son of Wilhelmus Petrus and Geertruida Maria Scheffers Schalke, attended schools in the Netherlands, and earned a degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s Degree equivalent in 1970 from Poly Technical School in the Netherlands.

In 1971, he was hired by Singer Business Machines, which brought Henk to the United States. He worked for several high tech start- up companies, most notably Concurrent Computer/MASSCOMP of Westford, MA, Cognex Corporation in Natick MA and CA, and consulted for Bose Corporation in Framingham, MA, retiring in 2013.

A lifelong learner, he had a thirst for knowledge and was always reading and studying history. More recently, Henk served as a volunteer instructor with South Coast Senior College in Wells and Sanford, where he taught the History of the Netherlands and computing skills for seniors.

Henk volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, working at their ReStore in Kennebunk overseeing the repair of furniture, as his passion was for woodworking and furniture making.

He loved to travel, and together with his wife Diane, they explored the world, visiting most of the Continents and most of the countries in Europe.

Survivors include his wife Diane DeSimone Schalke of Wells, daughters Lotti Turbide and her husband Brian of Harvard, MA, Tina Schalke and her fiancé Scott Hayes of Acton, MA, Leslie O’Donnell and her husband Robert and Valerie Kelly and her husband David Vandervalk all of Chelmsford, MA, four grandchildren Lia and Anna Turbide and Jeremy and Katelyn O’Donnell; and 9 brothers and sisters in the Netherlands, Jan, Diny, Marian, Pim, Ineke, Cees, Trudy, Ton, and Monique.

A Celebration of Henk’s Life Wednesday, August 2, 2017 from 12 -4 PM at the Andover Country Club, 60 Canterbury St. Andover MA, 01810, where a memorial service will begin at 12:30PM with a collation to follow.

Memorial contributions to ReStore, York County Habitat for Humanity, PO Box 267, Kennebunk ME. 04043, www.habitatyorkcounty.org

To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Henk’s Book of Memories Page at www.bibberfuneral.com.