Kathleen Armstrong Hauke was born on August 27, 1935 in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Robert J. and Katherine E. Armstrong. As a lifelong journalist she began contributing to the field at the early age of 15. In 1950, she wrote for TEEN TALK where she cultivated a passion for interviewing and recording life stories.

At the University of Rhode Island she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism (1958), a Master of Arts degree in English (1962), and a Ph.D. in English (1981). Working back and forth between Morris Brown College and Georgia State University, Mrs. Hauke performed several roles including teacher's assistant of english (1976-81), instructor (1984), assistant professor (1986-91), visiting professor (1985), and part time instructor (1986-88). She spent time as a visiting lecturer in Nairobi, Kenya (1988-89) and lectured in Atlanta in 1994.

Additionally, Mrs.Hauke authored a number of publications. She wrote biographies about Langston Hughes, Crystal Fauset, Elise Roxborough, Charles Spurgeon and executed the Life Stories Project. The Life Stories Project was conducted in Kenya and involved the collection of autobiographies written by black students from Africa and America. She edited "The Dark Side of Hopkinsville" short stories written by Ted Poston. Ted Poston was the first black journalist to break color barriers for newspaper men in America. In later years, she completed a second book on Ted Poston titled "Ted Poston: Pioneer American Journalist". She also compiled excerpts from her diaries to publish family histories.

In 2004, Kathleen A. Hauke passed away, a result of many years struggling with cancer. Mrs.Hauke was a wife to Richard L. Hauke whom she married on September 20, 1958 and the beloved mother of four children, Katy DuGarm, Nellie Ohr, Andrew M. and Henry J.