Donald R. Benitz, 88, St. Joseph, passed away May 14, 2012, at Heartland Regional Medical Center.
Donald was born and raised in Wathena, Kan. He was a 1941 graduate of Wathena High School, and then worked on the family farm. He married the former Bernita Holcomb on June 14, 1942, in Wathena. They celebrated almost 70 years together. In 1945, he served in the US Navy on the USS Arkansas during World War II. He later owned the Benitz Garage, which he owned for 25 years. He was also the superintendent of Mount Mora Cemetery for 25 years. Following that, he went back to work at Benitz Service Center.
Donald was a lifelong Lutheran and former member of Christ Lutheran Church, before becoming a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church. He was active in Gideon's International; Lutheran Laymen League, Sunday School teacher and superintendent, Church President and Treasurer and served on the Board of Trustees. He was a former member of American Legion.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and woodworking. He was very proud of his military service, his mechanical skills and his tremendous work ethic. He will be sadly missed by all his family and friends.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Alto and Nellie (Willard) Benitz; son, Cliffton Benitz; brothers, Grant, Earl, Max and David Benitz; sisters, Lucile Jorgensen, Helen Peters and Maxine Benitz.
Donald is survived by his wife, Bernita (Holcomb) Benitz, of the home; son, Evean (Deborah) Benitz, Wathena; daughter, Pam (Danny) McClanahan. Hemple, Mo.; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; and one sister, Nelita (Paul) Scheffler, Pickerington, Ohio.
Service: 2 p.m. Thursday, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 3524 St. Joseph Avenue, St. Joseph. Visitation will begin after 12 p.m. Wednesday, at Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel,
Donald was born and raised in Wathena, Kan. He was a 1941 graduate of Wathena High School, and then worked on the family farm. He married the former Bernita Holcomb on June 14, 1942, in Wathena. They celebrated almost 70 years together. In 1945, he served in the US Navy on the USS Arkansas during World War II. He later owned the Benitz Garage, which he owned for 25 years. He was also the superintendent of Mount Mora Cemetery for 25 years. Following that, he went back to work at Benitz Service Center.
Donald was a lifelong Lutheran and former member of Christ Lutheran Church, before becoming a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church. He was active in Gideon's International; Lutheran Laymen League, Sunday School teacher and superintendent, Church President and Treasurer and served on the Board of Trustees. He was a former member of American Legion.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and woodworking. He was very proud of his military service, his mechanical skills and his tremendous work ethic. He will be sadly missed by all his family and friends.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Alto and Nellie (Willard) Benitz; son, Cliffton Benitz; brothers, Grant, Earl, Max and David Benitz; sisters, Lucile Jorgensen, Helen Peters and Maxine Benitz.
Donald is survived by his wife, Bernita (Holcomb) Benitz, of the home; son, Evean (Deborah) Benitz, Wathena; daughter, Pam (Danny) McClanahan. Hemple, Mo.; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; and one sister, Nelita (Paul) Scheffler, Pickerington, Ohio.
Service: 2 p.m. Thursday, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 3524 St. Joseph Avenue, St. Joseph. Visitation will begin after 12 p.m. Wednesday, at Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel,
Donald R. Benitz, 88, St. Joseph, passed away May 14, 2012, at Heartland Regional Medical Center.
Donald was born and raised in Wathena, Kan. He was a 1941 graduate of Wathena High School, and then worked on the family farm. He married the former Bernita Holcomb on June 14, 1942, in Wathena. They celebrated almost 70 years together. In 1945, he served in the US Navy on the USS Arkansas during World War II. He later owned the Benitz Garage, which he owned for 25 years. He was also the superintendent of Mount Mora Cemetery for 25 years. Following that, he went back to work at Benitz Service Center.
Donald was a lifelong Lutheran and former member of Christ Lutheran Church, before becoming a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church. He was active in Gideon's International; Lutheran Laymen League, Sunday School teacher and superintendent, Church President and Treasurer and served on the Board of Trustees. He was a former member of American Legion.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and woodworking. He was very proud of his military service, his mechanical skills and his tremendous work ethic. He will be sadly missed by all his family and friends.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Alto and Nellie (Willard) Benitz; son, Cliffton Benitz; brothers, Grant, Earl, Max and David Benitz; sisters, Lucile Jorgensen, Helen Peters and Maxine Benitz.
Donald is survived by his wife, Bernita (Holcomb) Benitz, of the home; son, Evean (Deborah) Benitz, Wathena; daughter, Pam (Danny) McClanahan. Hemple, Mo.; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; and one sister, Nelita (Paul) Scheffler, Pickerington, Ohio.
Service: 2 p.m. Thursday, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 3524 St. Joseph Avenue, St. Joseph. Visitation will begin after 12 p.m. Wednesday, at Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel,
Donald was born and raised in Wathena, Kan. He was a 1941 graduate of Wathena High School, and then worked on the family farm. He married the former Bernita Holcomb on June 14, 1942, in Wathena. They celebrated almost 70 years together. In 1945, he served in the US Navy on the USS Arkansas during World War II. He later owned the Benitz Garage, which he owned for 25 years. He was also the superintendent of Mount Mora Cemetery for 25 years. Following that, he went back to work at Benitz Service Center.
Donald was a lifelong Lutheran and former member of Christ Lutheran Church, before becoming a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church. He was active in Gideon's International; Lutheran Laymen League, Sunday School teacher and superintendent, Church President and Treasurer and served on the Board of Trustees. He was a former member of American Legion.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and woodworking. He was very proud of his military service, his mechanical skills and his tremendous work ethic. He will be sadly missed by all his family and friends.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Alto and Nellie (Willard) Benitz; son, Cliffton Benitz; brothers, Grant, Earl, Max and David Benitz; sisters, Lucile Jorgensen, Helen Peters and Maxine Benitz.
Donald is survived by his wife, Bernita (Holcomb) Benitz, of the home; son, Evean (Deborah) Benitz, Wathena; daughter, Pam (Danny) McClanahan. Hemple, Mo.; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; and one sister, Nelita (Paul) Scheffler, Pickerington, Ohio.
Service: 2 p.m. Thursday, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 3524 St. Joseph Avenue, St. Joseph. Visitation will begin after 12 p.m. Wednesday, at Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel,
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