Henry Joseph Falcone, Jr., age 79, of Nevis, MN, passed away from vascular dementia on Sunday, April 26, 2026, surrounded by family.

He was born on August 25, 1946, in Chisholm, MN, son of Henry, Sr. and Caroline Falcone. As first-born son in a family of nine, he was honored with taking his father's name Henry Joseph, and throughout his life went by Hank, Uncle Hanky, Dad, Grandpa, Papa Hank, and Mr. Falcone.

Growing up, Hank found himself working hard in school, playing hockey and boxing, trying to stay out of trouble, and watch or watch out for his younger siblings. He stayed busy helping the family, working three jobs in high school, and before he knew it he was off to Hibbing Jr College. After two years at Hibbing JC, Hank decided to attend St. Cloud State University studying Elementary Education. Soon after starting he was drafted for the Vietnam War.

Hank served his country with honor, spending nine months in Vietnam in a combat role. During his service, he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in action, as well as the Combat Infantryman Badge. His additional honors included the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and Vietnam Campaign Medal. He also earned qualification badges as an Expert with the M-14 rifle and Marksman with the M-16 rifle. After valiantly serving his country, he was honorably discharged in 1970. Even though he had been wounded during combat, it did not stop his determination to head back to college, finish his education degree (the first in his family), and sweep his soon to be wife, Peggy Carney off her feet. Peggy and Hank tied the knot on August 12, 1972, starting their 53-year journey together that was full of life, love, kids, and grandkids.

Mr. Falcone was well known and respected at Medford School teaching 6th grade for over 33 years. He was tough, fair, and firm in his teaching style and discipline, so he often found the more challenging students in his classroom (who soon found out they wouldn’t get away with anything in his class!). Hank was proud to launch the very first Safety Patrol program in Medford schools, along with building a new initiative at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center (ELC), where students could explore nature and the outdoors for a week-long learning adventure in the wilderness of Northern MN.

Raising his two daughters was a whirlwind of school, sports, shopping, family trips, a little bit of sass, and a whole lot of pasta! Hank took on coaching both girls early on in various sports, helped Maria with her lefty hockey shot, spent countless hours helping the girls with math homework, and could braid hair like no other dad we knew. He was blessed with four grandkids and two bonus grandkids along the way and was always so content and compassionate around babies.

The kitchen was Hank’s happy place. He would spend a weekend perfecting his famous spaghetti sauce, whip up spareribs, potatoes & sauerkraut in a moment’s notice, make fresh popcorn on the stove at midnight, or have homemade chicken soup ready to go for his daughters and grandkids at the sign of a stuffy nose. Hank’s talents didn’t stop there; he was an all-around handyman extraordinaire! He could build on an addition to the house, fix anything we threw at him, do electrical work, plumbing, remodel a house, and everything in between. Many of those talents he taught and passed on to his daughters and grandchildren.

Hank loved teaching, his family, his pets (even the family pet chihuahua, Snickers, though he would never admit it) and his many close friends. He enjoyed spending long hours at the hunting shack with his brothers, nephew & close friends, shootin' the breeze up on the range with family, annual fishing trips with the guys, and many years of happiness Up North at the cabin.

Hank was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Falcone, Sr. and Caroline Falcone; sister, Carole Prizmich, and brother, Paul Falcone.

He is survived by his wife Peggy; daughters, Farrah Falcone and Maria (Ben) Waltman; grandchildren, Tayah (Kobe) and Ashton Hoffman, Capriana and Braylen Waltman; bonus grandchildren, Landon and Norah Hoffman; siblings, Patrick (Ellen) Falcone, Carla (Gary) Macynski, Peggy (Richard) Clayton, Mark Falcone, Santa (Kevin) Williamson, Philip (Lisa) Falcone; along with Brad (favorite ex-son-in-law) & Kendra Hoffman, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many lifelong friends.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at St. John Lutheran Church in Owatonna, MN. A celebration of life will follow at the Elks Club where we invite all those who knew him to come and share memories and stories with the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials or donations can be made in Hank’s memory to Disabled American Veterans Chapter 38, St. John Lutheran Church, or Crisis Resource Center of Steele County.