Bennie Hanath

Bennie Herman Hanath was born August 6, 1933 in Berlin Community in a barn at home.  His parents are the late Richard and Annie Hanath.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, April 16, 2021 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church with Pastor Phil Geleske officiating. Burial will follow at Prairie Lea Cemetery.

A visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, April 15, 2021 at Memorial Oaks Chapel.

Bennie chopped cotton, cut wood, and bailed hay - the typical farm work.  He attended Berlin School and Brenham High School, where he graduated in 1954.  He served in the Army for 2 years and spent most of his time at Fort Hood, he was also stationed at Fort Polk in Louisiana and was in the active reserve service for eight years. He was discharged from the service in 1956, he then attended Blinn College.  After graduating from Blinn, he also attended Sam Houston for 1 year.

In 1956, Bennie met Gloria (Puppa) at the Shelby dance hall.  They were married on February 16, 1958 at the Carmine Church and celebrated 63 years of marriage.  They are members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Brenham.

Bennie first worked for Washington Co. Tractor.  In 1960, he began his own business working on hay bailers and small mechanical work.  Later he went on to welding and building both small and large buildings, cattle lots and contract labor for welding in oil fields until his retirement.

Bennie is a member of the Elks Lodge 979 – served as exalted ruler in 82 and 86.  He’s a member of the Sons of Herman Lodge #6 of which he has held numerous offices.  Bennie received the Humanitarian Award in 1999.  He was a member of the American Legion, the Brenham Chapter of the Texas German Society and the Shelby Dance Hall.  He also served as Cub Scout Master and served on the board of the Friends of the Bluebonnet Opry.

Bennie and his wife hosted exchange students from 1987 to 1997.  The students came from Germany, Switzerland, Poland, and the Czech of Republic.

He loved to travel to Germany, Belgium, Poland, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hawaii, Bahamas’, and most of the US States.  They attended the Brenham Opry, played cards, dominoes, went dancing, and spent time with their grandchildren and great - grandchildren.  Bennie especially loved to watch John Wayne movies.

Bennie is preceded in death by his parents, infant son Timothy Scott Hanath, sister Anita Hanath, brother Louis Hanath, his father-in-law and mother-in-law Elmo and Annie (Rybarski) Hinze, brother-in-law Bobby Woolf, brother-in-law Henry Drews, and nephew Eric Hanath.

He is survived by his wife, Gloria Ann (Hinze) Hanath.  Also survived by sons Troy (Jeri) Hanath, and Bradley (Janice) Hanath.

His grandchildren Troy (Ashley) Hanath II, Arin (Charles) Cafero, Brandon Hanath, Wyatt (Ashley) Hanath, Austin Hanath.  Great-Grandchildren: Shelby, Colby, and Lacey Hanath; Kylie Cafero, and Lydia Hanath.

His siblings Richard (Pearlie) Hanath, Alvin (Bernice) Hanath, Elwood (Mae Dell) Hanath and Amalia Woolf, sister-in-law Joycine Hanath, and sister-in-law Eunice Drews, along with numerous nephews and nieces.

Special thanks to Rosehill Retirement Home and Allumine Hospice.

Memorial Contributions may be directed to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church CDS, the Elks Lodge BPOE – Brenham and Allumine Hospice.

Serving as pallbearers will be Troy Hanath II, Brandon Hanath, Wyatt Hanath, Austin Hanath, Charles Cafero, Rodney Hanath, Mark Hanath, and Ardie Hanath.  Honorary pallbearers are Arin Cafero, Marvin and Joyce Marburger, Paul Kendell, Mark Williams, and Marti VD Elsen.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 West Main Street, Brenham, TX 77833.