Edwin Bethke

Edwin August Bethke, 83 of Burton, died Jan. 21, 2007, at Trinity Medical Center in Brenham. Mr. Bethke was born Oct. 21, 1923, in the Sandtown community near Burton, to Ed and Emma Pfundt Bethke. He was baptized June 29, 1924 in St. John s United Church of Christ of Burton and was confirmed on Palm Sunday, 1939 in Martin Luther Lutheran Church of Carmine. Mr. Bethke attended Sandtown Schools, near Burton. At the age of 18, he was drafted into the Air Force. Leaving home for the first time, he went to Florida to do his basic training, and after a short furlough home he went overseas by ship doing tours of duty in Iwo Jima, Hawaii and other islands. Mr. Bethke was retired from Kessler Garage and was a member of the American Legion Post of Burton, Sons of Hermann and St. John s United Church of Christ. He was a past member of Burton Volunteer Fire Department. The family would like to say thank you to the doctors and nurses at Trinity Medical Center and Brenham Clinic for the special care and kindness given to Edwin. The family will receive visitors at Foehner Funeral Home in Burton from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. today. The funeral service will be at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23 at St. John s United Church of Christ in Burton with Rev. Glen Schoeneberg officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Survivors include two sisters and a brother-in-law, Alice Dannhaus and husband Ben, and Alvine Bethke; niece, Connie Strong and husband Lanny; nephew, Roy Dannhaus and wife Vickie; great-nephews, twins Chris and T.J. Rust; great-niece, Kaci Dannhaus; great-great-nephew, Aidan Rust; and special care giver, Mary Dean Neutzler. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Emma Pfundt Bethke; and sister and brother-in-law, Lorena and Travis Heins. Pallbearers will be Richard Blum, Herbert Dallmeyer, W.R. Bob Hammon, Donald Kessler, Greg Malloy, Roy Dannhaus, Lanny Strong and Hilton Thompson. Honorary pallbearers will be Kaci Dannhaus, Chris Rust, T.J. Rust and Henry Kessler. Memorials may be given to the Cemetery Association of St. John s United Church of Christ of Burton or to the charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Foehner Funeral Home of Burton.