Lester Carl Robert Behnke, age 78, of Brillion, WI went to be with his Lord on October 8, 2008, with his loving family at his side at Calumet Medical Center in Chilton. He was born December 12, 1929, in Lena, Wisconsin, son of the late Julius and Ruth (Fischer) Behnke. He married Bernice Kratz on Sept. 26, 1953, at St. John St. James Lutheran Church in Reedsville. He served in the U.S. Army and active Reserve during the Korean War from 1951 to 1956. Lester was a member of the Reedsville Fire Department and a lifetime member of the NRA. He worked for the Brillion Iron Works for 36 years, retiring in 1990. After his "retirement" he did many masonry jobs and built many garages for friends and family. He enjoyed plowing snow for Wes Kempen. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family. Lester also loved watching his son Joe, grandsons Jason and Jesse and nephews Randy and Mike and Rusty Wallace race, as he was an avid race fan. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Brillion where he served on various boards and the church council. He was also a member of the Brillion Conservation Club, where he served as a director. He enjoyed camping for many years with his family and loved playing cards with family and friends. He and his wife Bernice celebrated 55 years of marriage on Sept. 26, 2008.
He is survived by his wife Bernice; five sons Jim (Dori) Behnke, Jerome (Joyce) Behnke, John (Barb) Behnke, Joe (Wendy) Behnke, Jeff (Kerry) Behnke; two daughters: Judy (Jerry) Behnke, Janelle (Steve) Wordell; 18 grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, six step-great-grandchildren, a sister, Florence (Wilbert) Denor, and a brother-in-law Wilmer (Jan) Rahn. He is further survived by sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Evelyn (Wes) Loose, Lillian Mangin, Art (Diane) Kratz, Norb (Barb) Kratz and Ralph (Audrey) Kratz.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Merlin, a sister Dorothy Rahn, a daughter-in-law Nancy Behnke, his mother-in-law and father-in-law: Lena and Fred Kratz, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Lucille (Ralph) Gronke, Clarence (LaVerne) Kangas, Henry (Helen) Kratz and George Mangin.
The family will greet relatives and friends at Trinity Lutheran Church, 601 E. National Ave., Brillion, on Sunday, October 12 from 4-8 p.m. and then again at the church on Monday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The funeral service will be 11 a.m. on Monday with Pastor Ross Henzi officiating. Entombment will be at the Knollwood Mausoleum at Manitowoc. The Wieting Funeral Home in Brillion is assisting the Behnke family with arrangements.
The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Pastors Henzi and Bourman for all their visits, powerful prayers and words of comfort and concern. Also a special thank you to the entire staff at Calumet Medical Center, especially the nurses and Dr. Janu for all the loving care and words of comfort. Also to the Calumet County Nurses, especially Carol and Amy. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Lester's name.
Published in the Appleton Post Crescent on Oct. 11, 2008.
He is survived by his wife Bernice; five sons Jim (Dori) Behnke, Jerome (Joyce) Behnke, John (Barb) Behnke, Joe (Wendy) Behnke, Jeff (Kerry) Behnke; two daughters: Judy (Jerry) Behnke, Janelle (Steve) Wordell; 18 grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, six step-great-grandchildren, a sister, Florence (Wilbert) Denor, and a brother-in-law Wilmer (Jan) Rahn. He is further survived by sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Evelyn (Wes) Loose, Lillian Mangin, Art (Diane) Kratz, Norb (Barb) Kratz and Ralph (Audrey) Kratz.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Merlin, a sister Dorothy Rahn, a daughter-in-law Nancy Behnke, his mother-in-law and father-in-law: Lena and Fred Kratz, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Lucille (Ralph) Gronke, Clarence (LaVerne) Kangas, Henry (Helen) Kratz and George Mangin.
The family will greet relatives and friends at Trinity Lutheran Church, 601 E. National Ave., Brillion, on Sunday, October 12 from 4-8 p.m. and then again at the church on Monday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The funeral service will be 11 a.m. on Monday with Pastor Ross Henzi officiating. Entombment will be at the Knollwood Mausoleum at Manitowoc. The Wieting Funeral Home in Brillion is assisting the Behnke family with arrangements.
The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Pastors Henzi and Bourman for all their visits, powerful prayers and words of comfort and concern. Also a special thank you to the entire staff at Calumet Medical Center, especially the nurses and Dr. Janu for all the loving care and words of comfort. Also to the Calumet County Nurses, especially Carol and Amy. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Lester's name.
Published in the Appleton Post Crescent on Oct. 11, 2008.
Lester Carl Robert Behnke, age 78, of Brillion, WI went to be with his Lord on October 8, 2008, with his loving family at his side at Calumet Medical Center in Chilton. He was born December 12, 1929, in Lena, Wisconsin, son of the late Julius and Ruth (Fischer) Behnke. He married Bernice Kratz on Sept. 26, 1953, at St. John St. James Lutheran Church in Reedsville. He served in the U.S. Army and active Reserve during the Korean War from 1951 to 1956. Lester was a member of the Reedsville Fire Department and a lifetime member of the NRA. He worked for the Brillion Iron Works for 36 years, retiring in 1990. After his "retirement" he did many masonry jobs and built many garages for friends and family. He enjoyed plowing snow for Wes Kempen. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family. Lester also loved watching his son Joe, grandsons Jason and Jesse and nephews Randy and Mike and Rusty Wallace race, as he was an avid race fan. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Brillion where he served on various boards and the church council. He was also a member of the Brillion Conservation Club, where he served as a director. He enjoyed camping for many years with his family and loved playing cards with family and friends. He and his wife Bernice celebrated 55 years of marriage on Sept. 26, 2008.
He is survived by his wife Bernice; five sons Jim (Dori) Behnke, Jerome (Joyce) Behnke, John (Barb) Behnke, Joe (Wendy) Behnke, Jeff (Kerry) Behnke; two daughters: Judy (Jerry) Behnke, Janelle (Steve) Wordell; 18 grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, six step-great-grandchildren, a sister, Florence (Wilbert) Denor, and a brother-in-law Wilmer (Jan) Rahn. He is further survived by sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Evelyn (Wes) Loose, Lillian Mangin, Art (Diane) Kratz, Norb (Barb) Kratz and Ralph (Audrey) Kratz.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Merlin, a sister Dorothy Rahn, a daughter-in-law Nancy Behnke, his mother-in-law and father-in-law: Lena and Fred Kratz, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Lucille (Ralph) Gronke, Clarence (LaVerne) Kangas, Henry (Helen) Kratz and George Mangin.
The family will greet relatives and friends at Trinity Lutheran Church, 601 E. National Ave., Brillion, on Sunday, October 12 from 4-8 p.m. and then again at the church on Monday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The funeral service will be 11 a.m. on Monday with Pastor Ross Henzi officiating. Entombment will be at the Knollwood Mausoleum at Manitowoc. The Wieting Funeral Home in Brillion is assisting the Behnke family with arrangements.
The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Pastors Henzi and Bourman for all their visits, powerful prayers and words of comfort and concern. Also a special thank you to the entire staff at Calumet Medical Center, especially the nurses and Dr. Janu for all the loving care and words of comfort. Also to the Calumet County Nurses, especially Carol and Amy. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Lester's name.
Published in the Appleton Post Crescent on Oct. 11, 2008.
He is survived by his wife Bernice; five sons Jim (Dori) Behnke, Jerome (Joyce) Behnke, John (Barb) Behnke, Joe (Wendy) Behnke, Jeff (Kerry) Behnke; two daughters: Judy (Jerry) Behnke, Janelle (Steve) Wordell; 18 grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, six step-great-grandchildren, a sister, Florence (Wilbert) Denor, and a brother-in-law Wilmer (Jan) Rahn. He is further survived by sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Evelyn (Wes) Loose, Lillian Mangin, Art (Diane) Kratz, Norb (Barb) Kratz and Ralph (Audrey) Kratz.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Merlin, a sister Dorothy Rahn, a daughter-in-law Nancy Behnke, his mother-in-law and father-in-law: Lena and Fred Kratz, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Lucille (Ralph) Gronke, Clarence (LaVerne) Kangas, Henry (Helen) Kratz and George Mangin.
The family will greet relatives and friends at Trinity Lutheran Church, 601 E. National Ave., Brillion, on Sunday, October 12 from 4-8 p.m. and then again at the church on Monday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The funeral service will be 11 a.m. on Monday with Pastor Ross Henzi officiating. Entombment will be at the Knollwood Mausoleum at Manitowoc. The Wieting Funeral Home in Brillion is assisting the Behnke family with arrangements.
The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Pastors Henzi and Bourman for all their visits, powerful prayers and words of comfort and concern. Also a special thank you to the entire staff at Calumet Medical Center, especially the nurses and Dr. Janu for all the loving care and words of comfort. Also to the Calumet County Nurses, especially Carol and Amy. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Lester's name.
Published in the Appleton Post Crescent on Oct. 11, 2008.
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