Eunice Ella Behnke, age 89, a Manitowoc resident, passed away early Thursday morning, September 16, 2021 at The View Communities Assisted Living & Memory Care in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin.
Eunice was born September 28, 1931 in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, daughter of the late Herbert and Elfreida (Gaedtke) Pautz. She graduated with the class of 1950 from Manitowoc Lincoln High School. Eunice was a homemaker and worked part-time for an elderly care center. On May 24, 1952 she was married to Willard E. Behnke at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church. He preceded her in death on November 9, 2020. Eunice enjoyed cooking, taking care of children and the elderly. Eunice was a member of First German Ev. Lutheran Church and First German Ladies Aid. Above all, she was a loving and caring wife and mother.
Survivors include her one son and daughter-in-law: Willard H. “Will” (Victoria) Behnke, Marshall, Wisconsin; three brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law: Henry (Diane) Behnke, Manitowoc, Beverly (Gene) Sonnenbend, Brillion, Robert Eickert, Brillion, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends also survive. She was preceded in death by her parents: Herbert and Elfreida Pautz; her husband: Willard E. Behnke; father-in-law and mother-in-law: Henry and Esther Behnke; one brother and sister-in-law: Herbert P. (Angela) Pautz; four brothers-in-law and five sisters-in-law: Harold (Geraldine) Behnke, Elmira (Charles) Preston, Evelyn (Emil) Carstens, Doris Mae (Leroy) Laabs, and Delores Eickert.
Funeral service will be at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at First German Ev. Lutheran Church, 1033 South 8th Street, Manitowoc. Rev. Jacob Hoff will officiate with burial to follow at Knollwood Memorial Gardens. Family and friends may call at the church on Wednesday from 10:30 AM until the time of Service at 11:00 AM. You may also view the service live starting at 10:45 AM or after it is completed by visiting https://www.facebook.com/LakeshoreFamilyFH/. The Reinbold and Pfeffer Family Funeral Home of Manitowoc is assisting the Behnke family with funeral arrangements. In lieu of flowers monetary donations can be made to First German Ev. Lutheran Church in Eunice’s name. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lakeshorefamilyfuneralhomes.com
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the entire staff at The View and Rainbow Hospice, as well as special neighbors: Mark and Debbie Lehman for the care and compassion they have shown to Eunice and her family.
