Wayne Bethke

Wayne Marvin Bethke, 83, of Brenham passed away peacefully on Friday, September 26, 2014 following an extended battle with cancer. Wayne was born in Winfield, Kansas on July 1, 1931. He was raised in Giddings, Texas, son of Antone and Minnie Urban Bethke. He was baptized on August 9, 1935 at St. Paul''s Lutheran Church of Serbin, Texas. He was confirmed in Christ by Pastor Max Studtmann of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Giddings. After graduating from Giddings High School in 1949 he worked for his father''s Sinclair fuel distribution business before marrying his sweetheart and wife of 61 years, Ruth Dube, in a double wedding ceremony along with Ruth''s sister at Trinity Lutheran Church in Dime Box, Texas, on March 29, 1953. He enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he served as Radio Operator and began his life-long career as an educator while stationed on Guam. Following his tenure in the Air Force, Wayne worked his way through college graduating from Sam Houston State in 1958 with a degree in English and a minor in German. Wayne received his Masters of Administration from Texas A&M Kingsville.He had a long and distinguished career teaching high school English and German for both Corpus Christi and Brenham Independent School Districts. After retiring in 1990 from teaching, he and Ruth established Bethke''s Peanut Brittle and enjoyed traveling and sharing their much-loved candy with fans throughout the state before selling their business in 2003. Wayne is well-known for his strong Christian faith, work ethic, and commitment to family and friends. He served his church in numerous capacities over the years including choir member, usher, elder, member of the Men''s Club, and Grace Lutheran Church School Board. He is survived by his wife, Ruth; daughters Donna Hinze, Carol Mueller, Lynne McCartney, and Lori Hughes; sons-in-law Andy McCartney and O''Brien Hughes; grandsons Brandon Mueller and wife Sarah, Tyler Hinze and wife Lyndsay, Matthew McCartney, and Liam Hughes; great-grandchildren Michael and Taylor Hinze; sisters Ruth Koslan and Earlene Billig; brother and sister-in-law Raymond and Pat Bethke; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Dee and John Pace; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Antone and Minnie Bethke; brothers Marvin and Charles Bethke; brothers-in-law Erwin Koslan and Herman Dube, Jr.; and son-in-law Gary Hinze. Funeral services will be held at Grace Lutheran Church in Brenham on Sunday, September 28 beginning at 4:00 pm. Burial will be in Prairie Lea Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Memorial Oaks Chapel in Brenham from 6:00 -8:00 pm. Saturday evening. Memorials may be given to Grace Lutheran Church, Hospice of Brazos Valley, or Lutheran Hour Ministry. Funeral arrangements for Wayne Bethke are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham. To post a tribute to the family, visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.