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John W. Behnken, Jr., was born October 25, 1917 in Houston, Texas, the son of Rev. and Mrs. John W. Behnken, and entered into eternal life on September 21, 2005. Jay, as he liked to be called by family and friends, graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis in 1940 and served as pastor at churches in Eola and Houston, TX and Hickory, NC. In 1943 Jay began a long career as a military chaplain, first in the US Army Air Force and later in the US Air Force with assignments in Korea, Germany, and the Philippines, as well as numerous bases in the U. S. He retired from active duty as a Colonel at Kirtland AFB in 1977. Jay is survived by a daughter, Jayne Kuehner, and husband, Greg of Dayton, OH; son, Jim Behnken, and wife, Annalisa of Albuquerque; grandchildren, Kathryn Chase and husband, Brian, John Kuehner, and Jack and Julianne Behnken; great-grandchildren, Andrew, Laura, Caroline and Eleanor Chase; brother, Ken Behnken of Reno, NV; sisters, Lois Roehrs of Ft. Wayne, IN and Delle Schmelder of St. Charles, MO. He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Evelyn Knippa Behnken; two infant children, Carol Marie and John William, III; brothers, Victor, Donald and Lloyd Behnken; and a sister, Ruth Droegemueller Kroning. Jay was a long-time member of Christ Lutheran Church, 7701 Candelaria NE, where services will be held on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 at 10:30 am. The Rev. Glenn Weber will officiate. Friends may visit at French Mortuary, 10500 Lomas Blvd, NE on Monday, September 26, 2005 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Interment will take place at Austin Memorial Park in Austin, TX. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to The Lutheran Hour, 660 Mason Ridge Center Dr., St. Louis, MO 63141; Christ Lutheran School, 7701 Candelaria NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110; or the Alzheimer's Association, 8100 Mountain Rd. NE, Suite 102, Albuquerque, NM 87110. French Mortuary 10500 Lomas Blvd NE 275-3500
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