Wella Behnke

Wella Mae Laura Hinze Behnke, 91, of Carmine, died peacefully on January 6, 2014 at Gazebo Terrace Convalescent Center in Brenham. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m., Friday, January 10, 2014 at Martin Luther Lutheran Church of Carmine, with Pastor David Tinker officiating. Burial will be in La Bahia Cemetery. Mrs. Behnke will lie in state at Memorial Oaks Chapel in Brenham from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday. She will lie in state at Foehner Funeral Home in Burton beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday morning, with visitation to take place from 5 until 7 p.m. at Foehner Funeral Home in Burton. Mrs. Behnke was born the fifth child of Gustav and Alma Krause Hinze on June 16, 1922. She was baptized by Rev. A. H. Faulkenberg on Nov. 5, 1922, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Round Top, and confirmed there Sept. 29, 1936 by Rev. Kralik. She attended the La Bahia School. On Nov. 19, 1939, she was married to Milton Behnke in Bethlehem Lutheran Church by Rev. Kralik. Wella Mae Aunt Mae was a homemaker and helpmate to her husband on the farm for most of her life. She did work outside the home for a short period of time at Jake''s Eggs in Carmine, and as a custodian, along with Milton, for the Round Top-Carmine School. She was very handy with the sewing machine, sewing most of her daughters'' dresses as they grew up. She was gifted with creating needlework and craft projects, and lovingly handcrafted Christmas stockings for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren before her eyesight began to fail her. Wella Mae also made a quilt for each of her children and grandchildren. She truly enjoyed her family, especially her great-grandchildren when they would sing for her. Wella was a member of Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Carmine, and member of the Ladies Aide, as well as a member of the choir. Survivors include daughters Lana and Wilkens Aschenbeck, and Karen and Tony Dooley; son and daughter-in-law Frederick Freddie and Sharon Behnke; grandchildren: Tracy and husband Darren Weishuhn, Jo and husband James Pflughaupt, Paul Aschenbeck and wife Carrie, Todd Dooley and wife Amy, Blake Dooley and wife Amber, Bryn Behnke and wife Sara, Jill and husband Joey Wallace; 11 great-grandchildren: Jacob Pflughaupt, Riley and Ryndee Weishuhn, Evan, Eric, and Ethan Aschenbeck, Brody and Bree Dooley, Summer Dooley, Luke Behnke, Kinsley Wallace and another great-grandchild expected in June; sister, Verlie Wegner of Burton, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents, mother-in-law and father-in-law; three brothers and their wives: Elmo and Annie Hinze, Wayland and Myrtle Hinze, Delphine and Rosalee Hinze; sister and her husband, Leola and Ernest Althaus; brother-in-law Edward Wegner and brother-in-law Lorenz Behnke and wife, Myra. Serving as pallbearers are Paul Aschenbeck, Tracy Weishuhn, Jo Pflughaupt, Todd Dooley, Blake Dooley, Bryn Behnke, and Jill Wallace. The family wishes to extend special thanks to the nursing staff at Gazebo Terrace, as well as to Pastor Tinker. Memorials may be directed to Martin Luther Lutheran Church of Carmine, or to any favorite charity. Funeral arrangements for Well Mae Behnke are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham. To post a tribute to the family, visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.