Ben Boehnke

Ben Wayne Boehnke, 77, of Brenham, died June 15, 2011 in a Houston hospital. The family will receive visitors at Memorial Oaks Chapel Friday, June 17 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held at First United Methodist Church of Brenham Saturday, June 18 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Dale Chance and Charlie Matejowsky officiating. Burial will be in Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham. Mr. Boehnke was born April 15, 1934 in West Point, Texas, to Ben Paul and Viola Willeford Boehnke. He received his bachelor of arts and master of arts degrees from North Texas State University. On April 8, 1955, he was married to Sue Ann Nelson in Tyler. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Brenham. Mr. Boehnke was employed by Blinn College for 27 years and was the head football coach when he retired. The highlight of his career was the 1972 season which saw the Blinn Bucs post an undefeated season and advance to the Wool Bowl where they defeated Mesabi State Minn.. Mr. Boehnke won the NJCAA track coach-of-the-year honor and was named coach of the year by the Texas Sportswriters Association in 1972 and 1987. On October 17, 1998, he was inducted into the NJCAA Football Hall of Fame. He wanted to be remembered as being fair and honest. Survivors include his son, Michael Boehnke of Austin; daughters and sons-in-law, Karen and Bodley Thornton of Katy and Lisa and James Janak of Humble; grandchildren, Derek, Mitchell, Annalyse, Alyssa, Kayla, Paul and Kaitlyn; sister and brother-in-law, Shirley and Bobby Lyons of Katy; sisters-in-law, Betty Boehnke of Lane City and Joyce Coyle-Crosby of Shreveport, LA; and special friend, Martha Chaney. Mr. Boehnke was preceded in death by his parents, wife Sue Ann Boehnke, and brother. Pallbearers will be Derek Boehnke, Mitchell Boehnke, B. Paul Thornton, Gilbert Smith, Herman Borchardt and Larry Keller. Honorary pallbearers will be Jimmie Hahn, Jr., Buddy Hamrick, Leroy Dreyer, Marvin Kunkel, Mitch Fralich and his golfing buddies. Memorials may be given to First United Methodist Church of Brenham or Blinn College Boehnke Scholarship Funds.