Obit: Benecke, Rev. Fred #2 (1913 – 1966)

Contact: Audrey Roedl
Email: audrey@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Benecke, Jensen

----Source: The Loyal Tribune (Loyal, Clark County, WI) 29 Sept 1966

Benecke, Fred (17 Feb 1913 – 22 Sept 1966)

Services were conducted at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 24, at Zion Lutheran Church, Granton for te Rev. Fred C. Benecke, 53, who died unexpectedly of a heart attack Wednesday, September 22, at Geraldton, Ontario, Canada where he was vacationing with his wife and Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Doehr of Chili.

The Rev. E. T. Keller, Pittsville and the Rev. M. F. Sengele, Pulcifer officiated at the service.

The congregation sang “Nearer My God to Thee” and “I’m But a Stranger Here,” the organist Mrs. Leland Garbisch accompanied Corrine and Connie Montgomery as they sang “Asleep in Jesus, Blessed Sleep.”

Funeral arrangements were in charge of the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Granton. Burial was at Wisconsin Park Cemetery, Milwaukeeon Monday at 1 p.m.

Pallbearers were all pastors from the area with the members of the Church Council acting as honorary pallbearers.

The Rev. Mr. Benecke was born in Deitrick, Illinois, February 17, 1913 and attended high school and Concordia Junior College in Milwaukee. He received his theological training at Concordia Seminary, Springfield, Illinois.

Following graduation in 1936 he served as a candidate in St. John’s Congregation, Beaumont, Texas and was ordained a minister of the Lutheran Church, January 1, 1939 in Phillips, South Dakota.

He had served the following parishes: Phillips and Mikesville, South Dakota, 1939-42; Parker and Wellington, South Dakota, 1942-45; Cecil, 1946-53; Siring, Breed and Mountain 1953-63.

For the past three years the Rev. Mr. Benecke served as pastor of Zion Lutheran Granton, Christ Lutheran, Chili and St. John’s Lutheran Church, Christie.

His marriage to Anna Mary Jensen who survives, took place September 4, 1937 at Beaumont, Texas.

Other survivors are a daughter Kathryn, Chicago; a son William F. Benecke, Eau Claire. (two fosyer daughters, Mrs. William (Marion) Kalec, Palatine, Illinois; and Mrs. Clyde (Annie) Druckrey, Green Bay; a sister, Mrs. William Gerhardt, Springfield, Illinois; and five grandchildren.

Attending the services were relatives and friends coming from Beaumont, Texas, Springfield, Illinois, Chicago, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Suring, Manawa, Birchwood, Marshfield, Symco, Shawno, Menasha, Ann Harbor, Michigan, Fort Wayne, Indiana and many from the surrounding area.