Bennie Jahnke, 87

Bennie Jahnke

Jackson Bennie George Jahnke, Sr., age 87, died Dec. 22, 2015 at Good Samaritan Society in Jackson. Celebration of Life will be held Jan. 9, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at Patton Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Blue Earth. Visitation will be Jan. 8, 2016 from 2:00 4:00 p.m. at Patton Funeral Home. Burial will be in the spring of 2016.

Bennie was born July 22, 1928 to Benjamin and Agnes (Matteson) Jahnke in Blue Earth. He grew up in Blue Earth and worked at the Blue Earth Lumber Yard under Nick Jakobe until he retired in the 1990’s. Bennie loved fishing, playing pool and wood working, including making wood bears, cradles, ducks, wishing wells, bird houses and rocking horses. He married Loretta Smith on Aug. 25, 1951 at the Methodist Chapel in Blue Earth. Loretta died Sept. 25, 1978. Bennie married Viola Betels on Oct. 31, 1979 in South Dakota. Viola died Nov. 15, 2001.

Bennie is survived by sons, Bennie G. Jahnke, Jr., of Moose Lake, Richard (Marlene) Jahnke, of Elmore; daughters, Kathy (Tom) Cobb, of Windom, Sharon K. (Verlus) Burkhart, of Fairmont, Susan (Harold) Sullivan, of Bricelyn; grandchildren, step-grandchildren, great- grandchildren and step- great-grandchildren; brother, Lorman (Bev) Jahnke, of Elmore and brother-in-law, Lloyd Hinton, of Blue Earth and many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wives, Loretta and Viola; parents; brothers, George Sr., Ralph Sr., and Larry; sisters, Anna Ferguson and Helen Hinton; sons-in-law Ron Mollenhauer and Tom Cobb.

Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.com.