Mary Ann Behnke-Runice, 59, of N. 8571 Seward Drive, Berlin, died on September 22, 2006, following a courageous battle with cancer. The funeral was on Wednesday morning at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Collins, the Rev. Gregory Sluke officiating with burial in the church cemetery.
Mary Ann was born on November 8, 1946, daughter of Elaine Popp Behnke and the late Leonhardt Behnke Sr. She was a 1964 graduate of Reedsville High School. On June 11, 1966 she married Rodney Behnke at St. John - St. James Lutheran Church in Reedsville. He preceded her in death in August, 1988. She then married Jerry Runice on July 6, 2002 at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Collins.
Mary Ann was employed with Reedsville Public Schools from 1964 until July, 2002. She also owned and operated Behnke Realty and Auction Service I Collins with her husband, Rodney. She was currently employed with the Green Lake Public School System as the accounts manager.
Mary Ann was a longtime member of St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Collins and was presently a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Berlin, where she was also a member of the Ladies Aid. Mary Ann was a past member of the National Association of Realtors and the Calumet county Board of Realtors.
Survivors include her husband, Jerry Runice of Berlin; three children and their spouses, Tom Behnke of Collins and his special friend, Laurie Lutzke, Todd and Angie Behnke of Collins and Troy and Nicole Behnke of Reedsville; two grandsons, a step son, Eric Runice of Berlin, her mother, Elaine Behnke of Reedsville. She is further survived by two brothers and a sister-in-law, Leonhardt Jr., and Sue Behnke and Michael Behnke, all of Reedsville; three brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Dave Endries of St. Nazianz, Dennis and Joyce Behnke of Colliins and Eugene and Nancy Behnke of Reedsville; two sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law, Bev and Howard Reimer of New Holstein and Marlene Cardinahl of Kiel. Other survivors include special friends and cousin, Randy and Deanna Brandes of Brillion as well as many other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Rodney Behnke, her father, Leonhardt Sr., a sister, Beverly Endries and her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Henry O. and Myrtle Behnke.
Mary Ann enjoyed many different things but more than anything she enjoyed spending time with her family and making them happy. Her two grandsons were her sweethearts and being with them was always a special time for her. She touched the lives of everyone she met and will never be forgotten. The Wieting Funeral Home of Reedsville assisted the family with funeral arrangements.
Valders Journal, Sept. 28, 2006