Elke Hatch (nee Jordan)

Elke Hatch (nee Jordan), age 77, of Kettering, Ohio, passed away on Sunday, November 24, 2024. Elke was born on June 5, 1947 to Emil and Isolde Jordan, in Etzen, Germany. 

 Elke, the second of three children, spent a happy childhood in Rinteln, Germany. Her parents were teachers and instilled in her a life-long love of learning. At school, she excelled academically, particularly enjoying math. Love of nature and culture were the foundations of her childhood. 

 At age 16, Elke spent a year in Michigan as an exchange student. In 1966, she began her studies in Mainz, Germany, where she met a teacher, Edward, who would become her partner for life. Ed and Elke were married in Ann Arbor, MI in 1967 and moved to Kettering in 1971. There, she taught at Wright State University and completed her PhD in German Literature. In 1980, she began her career at the University of Dayton. In addition to teaching, she also worked as a translator and simultaneous interpreter. Elke retired from UD in 2010, after 30 years of dedicated service. 

 Elke maintained close ties with her family in Germany, travelling with her children nearly every summer. These trips to her childhood home instilled a love of German language and culture in her children. She relished summers because she could travel back to Germany where her parents provided an idyllic second home to her and her children. Elke believed in the importance of cultural exchange and as an educator, brought the joy of language and culture to countless students. 

 A devoted grandmother, Elke delighted in her four grandchildren, often travelling to see them in California and England. After retirement, she spent countless hours gardening, endearing herself to neighbours and friends with her advice and generosity. Her love of learning and culture carried over into retirement,, where she taught herself to read French and Italian. She also sang in the Dayton Celebration Chorus. Elke met life’s challenges with intelligence, pragmatism, and kindness. She cherished her friends and family, both far and near, and her caring, gentle character will be missed by all who knew her. 

 Elke is survived by her loving husband of nearly 57 years, Ed Hatch; her children, Christopher, Andrew, and Emily; her grandchildren, Beatrice, Henry, Elise, and Charles; and her siblings, Rüdiger and Lieselotte Jordan; and numerous extended family and friends. 

 A visitation will be held from 11am-1pm, on Friday, December 27, 2024, at Routsong Funeral Home, 2100 E. Stroop Rd. Kettering, OH 45429, with a funeral service to be held at 1pm, followed by a burial at David’s Cemetery. 

Instead of flowers, gifts can be made in memory of Elke to a charity of your choice, or to the “Edward L. and Dr. Elke Hatch Assistance Fund for Students of German” at the University of Dayton. A contribution can be made on UD's website or by mailing a check. Checks should include "Hatch Fund for German Students" on the memo line and be mailed to: 

 UD Advancement

300 College Park

Dayton, OH 45469-7056

https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/39665/donations/new?designation=edwardlanddrelkehatchassistancefundforstudentsofgermanendowment&