Orland “Bud” R. Behnke, 93, of Clintonville, passed away peacefully Friday afternoon, Jan. 10, 2014, at the New London Family Medical Center. Bud was born in the town of Bear Creek, Waupaca County, on July 29, 1920, as the son of the late Otto and Ella (Peters) Behnke.
He grew up in Bear Creek helping his family on the farm. As a young man he worked in the shipyards in Manitowoc and was united in marriage to Frances Pinder in 1942. The couple had a family and moved back to the Clintonville area, where Bud farmed with his brother Donald in the town of Matteson. Bud and Frances later divorced. He was a member of the St. Martin Lutheran Church in Clintonville for many years. Later in 1971, Bud was united in marriage to Jean Cotter. The couple also divorced. After selling his farm, Bud worked various places before being employed as a machinist with Webex Industries in Neenah. He retired at the age of 74. Bud was always flirting with the ladies, especially when he had on his cowboy hat and boots. He also greatly enjoyed going for a ride in his car or on his Honda motorcycle.
Survivors include his daughter, Darlene Loose, Bear Creek; two grandchildren, Jodi (Rod) Anderson, Bear Creek, and Jay (Nikki) Loose, Clintonville; seven great-grandchildren, Amber and Michael Anderson, and Travis, Chase, Bailey, Landon and Lily Loose; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Bernie, Ann and Bev Behnke, and Norma (Delbert) Owen, all of Clintonville.
Bud was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Wayne Behnke, in 2001; a son-in-law, Gary Loose, in 2007; a half-brother, Charles (Helen) Behnke; brothers, Clarence, Harold, Glenn and Donald; and sisters, Myrene (Leonard) Schmallenberg, Margaret (Rolland) Gielow and Marcella (Ervin) Fietzer.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014, at 11:30 a.m. at St. Martin Lutheran Church in Clintonville with the Rev. Daniel Burns officiating. Interment will be at the Graceland Cemetery, also in Clintonville, in the spring. Friends may call at the church on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service.
The Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory of Clintonville is assisting his family.
An online guestbook can be found for Bud at www.eberhardtstevenson.com.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established by his family.
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