Difference between revisions of "Curtis William Behnke Jr."
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==Vitals== | ==Vitals== | ||
| − | Curtis William Behnke Jr. was born February 15, 1925 in Fernwood, Michigan to Curtis William Behnke, Sr. (1898-1981) and Thelma Mae Craw Behnke (1904-1991). | + | Curtis William Behnke Jr. was born February 15, 1925 in Fernwood, Michigan to Curtis William Behnke, Sr. (1898-1981) and Thelma Mae Craw Behnke (1904-1991). |
He has two sisters: | He has two sisters: | ||
| − | |||
| − | * Alice Mae Behnke, born around 1933, living in Ferndale as recent as 1949. | + | * Phyllis Mae Behnke Wenzel, born Feb. 20, 1928 and died June 3, 2016 in Crystal Falls, MI. Her husband's name was Duane K. Wenzel (1929-2014). |
| + | ** There was a Frank Wenzel in LeRoy, MI whose daughter Margaret married [[Charles Van Ryn]], involved with the Muskegon assembly, and other daughter Florence Wenzel Pontius was involved with the Harbor Springs assembly. Unsure if related to Duane. | ||
| + | |||
| + | * Alice Mae Behnke, born around 1933, living in Ferndale as recent as 1949. | ||
==Curtis William Behnke Sr.== | ==Curtis William Behnke Sr.== | ||
| − | |||
Curtis' father was born on June 10, 1898 in Bramburg, Germany to Paul and Laura Gutzman Behnke. His family emigrated to the United States in 1912, having initially attempting, but failing, to book their passage on the ill-fated Titanic. | Curtis' father was born on June 10, 1898 in Bramburg, Germany to Paul and Laura Gutzman Behnke. His family emigrated to the United States in 1912, having initially attempting, but failing, to book their passage on the ill-fated Titanic. | ||
| Line 20: | Line 21: | ||
===Thelma Mae Craw Behnke=== | ===Thelma Mae Craw Behnke=== | ||
| − | Curtis' mother, Thelma Mae, was born May 26, 1904, in Saginaw, MI, to William and Cora A. Powlus Craw. She was saved in her teens, and was in fellowship of the Ferndale Assembly for over 50 years. She and Curtis Sr. were given to hospitality and kept many of the Lord's servants in their home. | + | Curtis' mother, Thelma Mae, was born May 26, 1904, in Saginaw, MI, to William and Cora A. Powlus Craw. She was saved in her teens, and was in fellowship of the Ferndale Assembly for over 50 years. She and Curtis Sr. were given to hospitality and kept many of the Lord's servants in their home. |
She died in Grand Rapids, MI on Feb. 15, 1991, having lived the last five years of her life at Rest Haven Home. Her brother [[Arthur Claud Craw]] and his wife were also involved with the Ferndale Assembly, as well as assemblies in AZ and Youngstown, OH. | She died in Grand Rapids, MI on Feb. 15, 1991, having lived the last five years of her life at Rest Haven Home. Her brother [[Arthur Claud Craw]] and his wife were also involved with the Ferndale Assembly, as well as assemblies in AZ and Youngstown, OH. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Military== | ||
| + | Curtis enlisted in June 1943 and served with the 334th Infantry Regiment of the 84th Infantry Division. | ||
==Letter to his parents== | ==Letter to his parents== | ||
| − | Pvt. [[Curtis William Behnke Jr.]] of 370 West Drayton Ave., Ferndale, MI, was killed in action in Germany on the 23rd of November, 1944. | + | Pvt. [[Curtis William Behnke Jr.]] of 370 West Drayton Ave., Ferndale, MI, was killed in action in Germany on the 23rd of November, 1944. |
| − | This is the letter he wrote to his parents three weeks before his death, which was published in April 1945 Letters of Interest: | + | This is the letter he wrote to his parents three weeks before his death, which was published in April 1945 Letters of Interest: |
Somewhere in France | Somewhere in France | ||
| Line 33: | Line 37: | ||
Dear Mother and Dad: | Dear Mother and Dad: | ||
| − | I am saved. I have accepted Jesus Christ as my own personal Saviour. | + | I am saved. I have accepted Jesus Christ as my own personal Saviour. You'll probably ask how and when, but I'll try to tell you the best I can. Until Dad spoke to me on furlough, I had been trying to put this whole thing of my soul's salvation off. And I'm afraid never had come to consider the future. I've been disturbed ever since. I just kept saying to myself, "I must be saved but how." I kept holding back. Well, yesterday, marching up through the mud I said to myself, "I will take Him." |
| − | I only have one regret and that is that I've wasted the first 19 years of my life. | + | I only have one regret and that is that I've wasted the first 19 years of my life. The only hope is now - that I may come down again to bear out my profession. I'm thankful for all the things I've learned as a child, for I know that I need no other person on earth to be saved. There is little comfort to be found around here so please, Dad, write me and tell the things I need to know. I'm not very good at explaining myself and I am a little mixed up, but I'm sure that I'm saved. Please write soon. Love, Curtis. |
===Sources=== | ===Sources=== | ||
Latest revision as of 08:23, 15 February 2025
Contents
Vitals
Curtis William Behnke Jr. was born February 15, 1925 in Fernwood, Michigan to Curtis William Behnke, Sr. (1898-1981) and Thelma Mae Craw Behnke (1904-1991).
He has two sisters:
- Phyllis Mae Behnke Wenzel, born Feb. 20, 1928 and died June 3, 2016 in Crystal Falls, MI. Her husband's name was Duane K. Wenzel (1929-2014).
- There was a Frank Wenzel in LeRoy, MI whose daughter Margaret married Charles Van Ryn, involved with the Muskegon assembly, and other daughter Florence Wenzel Pontius was involved with the Harbor Springs assembly. Unsure if related to Duane.
- Alice Mae Behnke, born around 1933, living in Ferndale as recent as 1949.
Curtis William Behnke Sr.
Curtis' father was born on June 10, 1898 in Bramburg, Germany to Paul and Laura Gutzman Behnke. His family emigrated to the United States in 1912, having initially attempting, but failing, to book their passage on the ill-fated Titanic.
Curtis Sr. was saved in 1918 in the old Central Hall, Detroit, MI, and involved in the Ferndale Gospel Hall, MI since its inception which is where Curtis Jr. was raised, including as correspondent 1947-1952+.
Curtis' mother, Laura, made a profession of faith at the age of 74, during five weeks of Gospel meetings held at Ferndale Gospel Hall during the latter part of January and early part of February 1952 by Robert Booth (West Hill, ON) and Frank Pearcey (Toronto, ON).
He and Thelma Craw were married Feb. 2, 1924 in Saginaw, MI, with S.C. Clement officiating, and Fred & Lottie Bauer, of Saginaw, witnessing. Curtis was 25, and Thelma was 19. He was employed as a Designer. He was known for faithfulness in area tract distribution. He died June 26, 1981, and William Lavery spoke at the funeral services.
Thelma Mae Craw Behnke
Curtis' mother, Thelma Mae, was born May 26, 1904, in Saginaw, MI, to William and Cora A. Powlus Craw. She was saved in her teens, and was in fellowship of the Ferndale Assembly for over 50 years. She and Curtis Sr. were given to hospitality and kept many of the Lord's servants in their home.
She died in Grand Rapids, MI on Feb. 15, 1991, having lived the last five years of her life at Rest Haven Home. Her brother Arthur Claud Craw and his wife were also involved with the Ferndale Assembly, as well as assemblies in AZ and Youngstown, OH.
Military
Curtis enlisted in June 1943 and served with the 334th Infantry Regiment of the 84th Infantry Division.
Letter to his parents
Pvt. Curtis William Behnke Jr. of 370 West Drayton Ave., Ferndale, MI, was killed in action in Germany on the 23rd of November, 1944.
This is the letter he wrote to his parents three weeks before his death, which was published in April 1945 Letters of Interest:
Somewhere in France Nov. 2, 1944
Dear Mother and Dad: I am saved. I have accepted Jesus Christ as my own personal Saviour. You'll probably ask how and when, but I'll try to tell you the best I can. Until Dad spoke to me on furlough, I had been trying to put this whole thing of my soul's salvation off. And I'm afraid never had come to consider the future. I've been disturbed ever since. I just kept saying to myself, "I must be saved but how." I kept holding back. Well, yesterday, marching up through the mud I said to myself, "I will take Him."
I only have one regret and that is that I've wasted the first 19 years of my life. The only hope is now - that I may come down again to bear out my profession. I'm thankful for all the things I've learned as a child, for I know that I need no other person on earth to be saved. There is little comfort to be found around here so please, Dad, write me and tell the things I need to know. I'm not very good at explaining myself and I am a little mixed up, but I'm sure that I'm saved. Please write soon. Love, Curtis.
Sources
- Letters of Interest: 1945 April; 1952 April;
- Truth & Tidings: 1981 Oct; 1991 May;
- Words in Season: 1947 Sept;
- Ancestry.com
