Eldora “Dorie” E. Behnke, age 80 of the Town of Larrabee, Waupaca County, passed away Monday morning, January 7, 2019 at the ThedaCare Medical Center in New London.
Eldora Elaine Marquardt was born on November 14, 1938 in the Town of Dupont, Waupaca County as the daughter of the late Reinhart and Lilly (Schmidt) Marquardt. She grew up on a farm in the Town of Dupont and later moved with her family to a farm near Split Rock. Dorie graduated from Tigerton High School and went on to earn her Teaching Degree at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. She was united in marriage to Maurice “Morie” Behnke on December 20, 1958 at Peace Lutheran Church in Split Rock. The couple later moved to Clintonville where they became members of the Christus Lutheran Church. Dorie volunteered for a number of things at church, but was most proud of serving as their Sunday School Teacher for many years. She began her teaching career in 1958 as an elementary school teacher in Navarino, she then taught in Bear Creek, and after many years she retired from the Clintonville School District having taught at both Dellwood and Longfellow Schools. Dorie was a Reading Specialist for the Title I Program throughout her career as an elementary school teacher. She never let any of her students fall behind and always went the extra mile for them. In her free time, Dorie enjoyed gardening and canning. She looked forward to family camping and fishing trips with Morie and loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include: her husband, Maurice “Morie” Behnke; daughters, JoAnn (Dave) Beschta, Shiocton and Beth Ann Brauer, Bear Creek; grandchildren: David (Katie) Beschta, Shiocton; Angela (Erik) Heiden, Black Creek; Ashley (Tom) Glatz, Shiocton; Danielle Beschta, Shiocton; Joshua (Jill) Brauer, New London; Jacob Brauer, Marion; Jesse Brauer, Bear Creek; great-grandchildren: Brooke, Nicholas, Joseph, Ashley, Mercedes, Jackson, Hailey, Hannah, Jaxson, and Jada; and her sister, Audrey (Burt) Blomgren, Franksville. Also, numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Dorie was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Ruby Kersten and Goldie Moen, and her brother, Norman “Chicky” Marquardt.
Dorie’s funeral service will be held Saturday, January 12, 2019 at 11 a.m. at the Christus Lutheran Church in Clintonville with Rev. Brian Crocker officiating. Interment will be at Trinity-St. John’s Cemetery in the Town of Dupont. Friends may call at the church on Saturday from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. The Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory of Clintonville is assisting her family with the arrangements. www.eberhardtstevenson.com
Dorie’s family would like to extend their most sincerest thank you to the staff at ThedaCare Medical Center in New London for the wonderful care they provided.