Deputy Henke was struck and killed by a drunk driver while manning a road block.

On February 4, 1971, Deputy Henke was at a roadblock on US 40/61 just west of the Daniel Boone Bridge over the Missouri River attempting to located suspects in a Weldon Spring home breakin earlier that day. The driver, who was intoxicated and driving without a license because of an earlier drunk driving conviction, crashed through the roadblock and struck Deputy Henke. The suspect vehicle was stopped one mile west of the scene by the Highway Patrol at another roadblock.

Deputy Henke was a deputy sheriff for 18 months and was survived by his wife and daughter.