Donna M. Behnke

Donna M. (Dehnel) Behnke, 75, formerly of Edgar, died Friday, March 21, 2014 under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services at Benedictine Manor, Wausau. She was born July 19, 1938 in Wausau, daughter of the late George and Hildegard (Beilke) Dehnel. On April 14, 1956, she married Eugene A. Behnke at Trinity Lutheran Church, town of Stettin. He preceded her in death on December 6, 1995. Donna and her husband, Eugene, farmed and raised ginseng in the township of Rib Falls for many years. Through the years, she also cared for and babysat many of the neighborhood children. Donna enjoyed baking and canning along with polka music, holiday and family gatherings, watching Packer football and NASCAR racing, and mostly cherished time spent with her grandchildren. She is survived by her daughter Karen (Robert) Tesch, Wausau; son, Kenneth, Edgar; son, Kevin (Diana), Edgar; son, Keith (Marsha), Mosinee; daughter, Karla (Kevin) Oehmichen, Athens; son, Karl, Edgar; daughter, Karol (George Eckert) Stanley, Washington D.C.; daughter, Kolleen (Michael) Warosh, Janesville; and daughter, Kaye (Donald Vancos) Behnke, Athens; 11 grandchildren, Christopher, Joshua, Amanda, Sarah, Angela, Andrea, Michael, Matthew, Nicholas, Nathan, and Hannah; and three great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her three brothers, Leroy (Sharon) Dehnel, Wausau; Edward, Wausau; and Robert, Marathon, and brother-in-law, Robert Rajek, Edgar; sisters-in-law, Phyllis Kufahl, Marathon and Beverly Behnke, Plymouth; brothers-in-law, Donald (Ila) Behnke, Edgar and Merlyn (Jill) Behnke, Hastings, MN; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews. Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sister Ardell Rajek, sister-in-law Sue Dehnel, and brothers-in-law, Mayward Heise, Garry Kufahl, and Wayne Behnke. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at Trinity Lutheran Church, town of Stettin. Rev. Philip Bogen will officiate. Interment will follow in Stettin Christian Cemetery. Friends may call Monday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 300 Walnut Street, Marathon, with a closing prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will also be on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the church. The family guestbook and condolences are available at www.petersonkraemer.com The family would like to thank Pastor Philip Bogen, Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services, and the staff at Renaissance Assisted Living, Schofield, and Benedictine Manor, Wausau.