Herman Bentke, Jr.

Funeral services for Herman Bentke, Jr. are scheduled for 10 a.m., Friday, May 30, 2014 at St. John Lutheran Church of Prairie Hill. Pastors Jim Abbott and Virgil Pecht will officiate, with burial to follow in Prairie Lea Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 until 7 p.m. Thursday evening at Memorial Oaks Chapel. Mr. Bentke passed away in Brenham on May 27, 2014, at the age of 76. Survivors include his wife, Donna Jo Kolwes Bentke; sons Phil Bentke and wife Amy, and Brad Bentke, all of Brenham; grandchildren: Reagan and Cara Bentke; brother, Raymond Bentke and wife Verna Mae of Houston; sisters Mary Jo Schulz and husband Ervin of Brenham, and Alma Place of Marquez, Texas; sisters-in-law Rosie Bentke, Christine Bentke, Dorothy Bentke, Barbara Kramer, Dorothy Schulte, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman Sr. and Emma Bentke; brothers Alfred Bentke, Melvin Bentke, Glenn Bentke; brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Georgia Mae Bentke; sisters and brothers-in-law Ida and Johnny Kaechler, and Lois and Fred Ruemke; brothers-in-law Edwin Kramer, Jr., Thomas Schulte, and Bernarr Place; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Ernest Kolwes and Elsie Kolwes Haevischer, and a step father-in-law, Herbert Haevischer. Herman Bentke, Jr. was born Feb. 22, 1938 in Brenham to Herman Sr. and Emma Moehlmann Bentke. He was baptized Feb. 23, 1938 and confirmed April 6, 1952. While completing his education, Herman served in the Texas National Guard. Herman was a 1957 graduate of Brenham High School. He was married to Donna Jo Kolwes on Dec. 22, 1957. While living in Houston, he served as the Timbergrove National Little League President, and was co-owner of the Matt Graham Corp. in Houston prior to his retirement. Mr. Bentke was a member of St. John Lutheran Church of Prairie Hill, where he served on the church council and on various committees. A special honor was induction into the Brenham High School Football Hall of Honor in 2006. Serving as pallbearers are Russell Schulte, Michael Schulte, Mark Schulte, Michael Bentke, Matthew Bentke, Terry Schulz, Michael Meadows, and Susie Kramer. Memorials may be directed to St. John Lutheran Church of Prairie Hill. Funeral arrangements for Herman Bentke, Jr. are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham. To post a tribute to the family, visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.