Brenda's Obituary
Brenda Bren (Benke) Zitsch, a loving mother, Nana, sister, Aunt B and friend has lost her battle with cancer and was called home on June 30, 2019 in Greeneville, TN at the age of 55. She was so beautiful inside and out, so strong and kept her faith through out her fight and never became bitter. She was such a blessing and we are all thankful for the time God gave us with her. Bren was 1 of 4 children born to Sharon (Dempsey) Benke and Stephen Benke on December 19, 1963 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
She had recently moved back to Tennessee, making her home in Mosheim. Over the years she would go back and forth between Tennessee and Kansas as she considered them both home and loved them equally.
Growing up she lived in Caldwell, KS with her mom (Sharon) and siblings; Barbara, Bob, and Bonnie. Becoming a teenager, boy did she become ornery! She had a vivacious personality and always made people around her laugh. She once dared her baby sis Bonnie to drink a bottle of Tabasco sauce, promising to pay her $100 if she did...Bonnie felt the burn but never seen the money! Or there was the time she snuck out of her bedroom window trying to be sneaky, only to find her mom sitting on her bed waiting for her when she finally returned home. There was also the time Bren and Carna Cink 'jumped" the train from Caldwell to Wellington and then had to figure out a way to get home!
She loved playing pool, softball, going fishing, playing football, singing, and going to the drive in theatre. As she got older she loved doing home décor and cooking (although she loved Bonnie's oatmeal raisin cookies and Barb's pumpkin rolls). She continued to love football and was a faithful Denver Broncos fan to the end.
At the mere age of 16, she married the love of her life, Mike Downum, in 1979. Within this union, she had her first born, Jennifer Ann (Downum)
Conrady. Years later, after a divorce she met Jeff Zitsch and remarried. To this union she had her two sons, Brandon Jeffrey Michael Zitsch and Kai Braxton Zitsch. This marriage ended in divorce.
Bren's true loves were her kids Jenni, Brandon and Kai and her grandkids Zander, Norah, Tinsley and Asher. She especially loved her role as "Nana".
Brenda was preceded in death by her mom Sharon Benke, father Stephen Benke, brother, Robert Benke, brother-in-law Art Guerra and best friend Sarah Apple.
Survivors include: daughter Jenni Conrady (Kelly), sons: Brandon Zitsch (Toni) and Kai Zitsch, grandchildren: Zander and Norah Conrady, Tinsley and Asher Zitsch, sisters: Barbara Eslinger (Kelly) and Bonnie Guerra, nieces: Crystal Mingle, Margarita Guerra (Cy), nephews: Christopher Mingle (Cerina), David Raborn (Ashley), Weigand and Tommy Guerra, Art Guerra Jr., great nieces: CaliTee Olivas, Chesney and Paisley Mingle, great nephews: CJ Olivas and Damion Mingle, uncle John Flint and many other family and friends
Bren will be missed by all that knew her.
The family will receive friends Monday, July 8, 2019 from 1-3PM at Jeffers Funeral Service Downtown. The funeral service will follow visitation in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Bob Brown officiating. Interment will be at River Hill Cemetery.
Brenda Bren (Benke) Zitsch, a loving mother, Nana, sister, Aunt B and friend has lost her battle with cancer and was called home on June 30, 2019 in Greeneville, TN at the age of 55. She was so beautiful inside and out, so strong and kept her faith through out her fight and never became bitter. She was such a blessing and we are all thankful for the time God gave us with her. Bren was 1 of 4 children born to Sharon (Dempsey) Benke and Stephen Benke on December 19, 1963 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
She had recently moved back to Tennessee, making her home in Mosheim. Over the years she would go back and forth between Tennessee and Kansas as she considered them both home and loved them equally.
Growing up she lived in Caldwell, KS with her mom (Sharon) and siblings; Barbara, Bob, and Bonnie. Becoming a teenager, boy did she become ornery! She had a vivacious personality and always made people around her laugh. She once dared her baby sis Bonnie to drink a bottle of Tabasco sauce, promising to pay her $100 if she did...Bonnie felt the burn but never seen the money! Or there was the time she snuck out of her bedroom window trying to be sneaky, only to find her mom sitting on her bed waiting for her when she finally returned home. There was also the time Bren and Carna Cink 'jumped" the train from Caldwell to Wellington and then had to figure out a way to get home!
She loved playing pool, softball, going fishing, playing football, singing, and going to the drive in theatre. As she got older she loved doing home décor and cooking (although she loved Bonnie's oatmeal raisin cookies and Barb's pumpkin rolls). She continued to love football and was a faithful Denver Broncos fan to the end.
At the mere age of 16, she married the love of her life, Mike Downum, in 1979. Within this union, she had her first born, Jennifer Ann (Downum)
Conrady. Years later, after a divorce she met Jeff Zitsch and remarried. To this union she had her two sons, Brandon Jeffrey Michael Zitsch and Kai Braxton Zitsch. This marriage ended in divorce.
Bren's true loves were her kids Jenni, Brandon and Kai and her grandkids Zander, Norah, Tinsley and Asher. She especially loved her role as "Nana".
Brenda was preceded in death by her mom Sharon Benke, father Stephen Benke, brother, Robert Benke, brother-in-law Art Guerra and best friend Sarah Apple.
Survivors include: daughter Jenni Conrady (Kelly), sons: Brandon Zitsch (Toni) and Kai Zitsch, grandchildren: Zander and Norah Conrady, Tinsley and Asher Zitsch, sisters: Barbara Eslinger (Kelly) and Bonnie Guerra, nieces: Crystal Mingle, Margarita Guerra (Cy), nephews: Christopher Mingle (Cerina), David Raborn (Ashley), Weigand and Tommy Guerra, Art Guerra Jr., great nieces: CaliTee Olivas, Chesney and Paisley Mingle, great nephews: CJ Olivas and Damion Mingle, uncle John Flint and many other family and friends
Bren will be missed by all that knew her.
The family will receive friends Monday, July 8, 2019 from 1-3PM at Jeffers Funeral Service Downtown. The funeral service will follow visitation in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Bob Brown officiating. Interment will be at River Hill Cemetery.
Brenda's Obituary
Brenda Bren (Benke) Zitsch, a loving mother, Nana, sister, Aunt B and friend has lost her battle with cancer and was called home on June 30, 2019 in Greeneville, TN at the age of 55. She was so beautiful inside and out, so strong and kept her faith through out her fight and never became bitter. She was such a blessing and we are all thankful for the time God gave us with her. Bren was 1 of 4 children born to Sharon (Dempsey) Benke and Stephen Benke on December 19, 1963 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
She had recently moved back to Tennessee, making her home in Mosheim. Over the years she would go back and forth between Tennessee and Kansas as she considered them both home and loved them equally.
Growing up she lived in Caldwell, KS with her mom (Sharon) and siblings; Barbara, Bob, and Bonnie. Becoming a teenager, boy did she become ornery! She had a vivacious personality and always made people around her laugh. She once dared her baby sis Bonnie to drink a bottle of Tabasco sauce, promising to pay her $100 if she did...Bonnie felt the burn but never seen the money! Or there was the time she snuck out of her bedroom window trying to be sneaky, only to find her mom sitting on her bed waiting for her when she finally returned home. There was also the time Bren and Carna Cink 'jumped" the train from Caldwell to Wellington and then had to figure out a way to get home!
She loved playing pool, softball, going fishing, playing football, singing, and going to the drive in theatre. As she got older she loved doing home décor and cooking (although she loved Bonnie's oatmeal raisin cookies and Barb's pumpkin rolls). She continued to love football and was a faithful Denver Broncos fan to the end.
At the mere age of 16, she married the love of her life, Mike Downum, in 1979. Within this union, she had her first born, Jennifer Ann (Downum)
Conrady. Years later, after a divorce she met Jeff Zitsch and remarried. To this union she had her two sons, Brandon Jeffrey Michael Zitsch and Kai Braxton Zitsch. This marriage ended in divorce.
Bren's true loves were her kids Jenni, Brandon and Kai and her grandkids Zander, Norah, Tinsley and Asher. She especially loved her role as "Nana".
Brenda was preceded in death by her mom Sharon Benke, father Stephen Benke, brother, Robert Benke, brother-in-law Art Guerra and best friend Sarah Apple.
Survivors include: daughter Jenni Conrady (Kelly), sons: Brandon Zitsch (Toni) and Kai Zitsch, grandchildren: Zander and Norah Conrady, Tinsley and Asher Zitsch, sisters: Barbara Eslinger (Kelly) and Bonnie Guerra, nieces: Crystal Mingle, Margarita Guerra (Cy), nephews: Christopher Mingle (Cerina), David Raborn (Ashley), Weigand and Tommy Guerra, Art Guerra Jr., great nieces: CaliTee Olivas, Chesney and Paisley Mingle, great nephews: CJ Olivas and Damion Mingle, uncle John Flint and many other family and friends
Bren will be missed by all that knew her.
The family will receive friends Monday, July 8, 2019 from 1-3PM at Jeffers Funeral Service Downtown. The funeral service will follow visitation in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Bob Brown officiating. Interment will be at River Hill Cemetery.
Brenda Bren (Benke) Zitsch, a loving mother, Nana, sister, Aunt B and friend has lost her battle with cancer and was called home on June 30, 2019 in Greeneville, TN at the age of 55. She was so beautiful inside and out, so strong and kept her faith through out her fight and never became bitter. She was such a blessing and we are all thankful for the time God gave us with her. Bren was 1 of 4 children born to Sharon (Dempsey) Benke and Stephen Benke on December 19, 1963 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
She had recently moved back to Tennessee, making her home in Mosheim. Over the years she would go back and forth between Tennessee and Kansas as she considered them both home and loved them equally.
Growing up she lived in Caldwell, KS with her mom (Sharon) and siblings; Barbara, Bob, and Bonnie. Becoming a teenager, boy did she become ornery! She had a vivacious personality and always made people around her laugh. She once dared her baby sis Bonnie to drink a bottle of Tabasco sauce, promising to pay her $100 if she did...Bonnie felt the burn but never seen the money! Or there was the time she snuck out of her bedroom window trying to be sneaky, only to find her mom sitting on her bed waiting for her when she finally returned home. There was also the time Bren and Carna Cink 'jumped" the train from Caldwell to Wellington and then had to figure out a way to get home!
She loved playing pool, softball, going fishing, playing football, singing, and going to the drive in theatre. As she got older she loved doing home décor and cooking (although she loved Bonnie's oatmeal raisin cookies and Barb's pumpkin rolls). She continued to love football and was a faithful Denver Broncos fan to the end.
At the mere age of 16, she married the love of her life, Mike Downum, in 1979. Within this union, she had her first born, Jennifer Ann (Downum)
Conrady. Years later, after a divorce she met Jeff Zitsch and remarried. To this union she had her two sons, Brandon Jeffrey Michael Zitsch and Kai Braxton Zitsch. This marriage ended in divorce.
Bren's true loves were her kids Jenni, Brandon and Kai and her grandkids Zander, Norah, Tinsley and Asher. She especially loved her role as "Nana".
Brenda was preceded in death by her mom Sharon Benke, father Stephen Benke, brother, Robert Benke, brother-in-law Art Guerra and best friend Sarah Apple.
Survivors include: daughter Jenni Conrady (Kelly), sons: Brandon Zitsch (Toni) and Kai Zitsch, grandchildren: Zander and Norah Conrady, Tinsley and Asher Zitsch, sisters: Barbara Eslinger (Kelly) and Bonnie Guerra, nieces: Crystal Mingle, Margarita Guerra (Cy), nephews: Christopher Mingle (Cerina), David Raborn (Ashley), Weigand and Tommy Guerra, Art Guerra Jr., great nieces: CaliTee Olivas, Chesney and Paisley Mingle, great nephews: CJ Olivas and Damion Mingle, uncle John Flint and many other family and friends
Bren will be missed by all that knew her.
The family will receive friends Monday, July 8, 2019 from 1-3PM at Jeffers Funeral Service Downtown. The funeral service will follow visitation in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Bob Brown officiating. Interment will be at River Hill Cemetery.
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