Charles J. Behrendt
April 15, 1926 — April 18, 2014
Charles Joseph Behrendt was born on April 15, 1926 near Panama, Iowa to John and Mae (Kelley) Behrendt, the second oldest of a family of four boys and two girls. Growing up he helped with the farm work at home and with the neighbors. He attended grade school in the country schoolhouse and graduated from Harlan High School at the age of seventeen.
After high school, he farmed and worked for the neighbors and at Hansen Garage. He was drafted into the United States Army on September 21, 1950 and served during the Korean War. He attained the rank of Sergeant First Class before his honorable discharge on June 25, 1952. He returned to farming and also worked at the ASCS as County Bin Site Supervisor for twenty-four years.
In 1957, he was married to Mildred Schechinger at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan. There were three sons born to them: Mike, Pat, and Bill. Charles farmed all his life until his retirement at age sixty-two when he moved into Harlan. He then worked for Wilson Hybrids during harvest and later worked at the Shelby County Landfill until his health began to fail.
Charles was a quiet, gentle giant, but you always knew who was in charge. If the boys or grandchildren would get out of control, the old Army Sergeant would appear to take care of the situation! He was a great father and grandfather and enjoyed every minute of it.
Charles died three days after his eighty-eighth birthday on Friday, April 18, 2014, after a short stay at Creighton University Medical Center and one night at the Avoca Nursing and Rehab Center in Avoca, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: Russell and John, and his sister Pearle Norgaard.
He is survived by his wife of nearly fifty-seven years Mildred Behrendt of Harlan, Iowa; sons: Mike Behrendt and his wife Della of Defiance, Iowa, Pat Behrendt and his wife Kelly of Harlan, Iowa, and Bill Behrendt of Boone, Iowa; six grandchildren: Michael Behrendt and his wife Jen of Omaha, Nebraska, Jarred Behrendt and his wife Renae of Anchorage, Alaska, Charles Behrendt of Harlan, Iowa, Cory Behrendt, Ashley Behrendt, and Nicholas Behrendt; step-grandsons: Brandon Swisher of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Brent Swisher of Avoca, Iowa, and Brock Swisher of Millard, Nebraska; three great-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; sister Doris and her husband Don Jackson of Omaha, Nebraska; brother Cliff Behrendt and his wife Paula of Harlan, Iowa; other family members and many friends.
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After high school, he farmed and worked for the neighbors and at Hansen Garage. He was drafted into the United States Army on September 21, 1950 and served during the Korean War. He attained the rank of Sergeant First Class before his honorable discharge on June 25, 1952. He returned to farming and also worked at the ASCS as County Bin Site Supervisor for twenty-four years.
In 1957, he was married to Mildred Schechinger at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan. There were three sons born to them: Mike, Pat, and Bill. Charles farmed all his life until his retirement at age sixty-two when he moved into Harlan. He then worked for Wilson Hybrids during harvest and later worked at the Shelby County Landfill until his health began to fail.
Charles was a quiet, gentle giant, but you always knew who was in charge. If the boys or grandchildren would get out of control, the old Army Sergeant would appear to take care of the situation! He was a great father and grandfather and enjoyed every minute of it.
Charles died three days after his eighty-eighth birthday on Friday, April 18, 2014, after a short stay at Creighton University Medical Center and one night at the Avoca Nursing and Rehab Center in Avoca, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: Russell and John, and his sister Pearle Norgaard.
He is survived by his wife of nearly fifty-seven years Mildred Behrendt of Harlan, Iowa; sons: Mike Behrendt and his wife Della of Defiance, Iowa, Pat Behrendt and his wife Kelly of Harlan, Iowa, and Bill Behrendt of Boone, Iowa; six grandchildren: Michael Behrendt and his wife Jen of Omaha, Nebraska, Jarred Behrendt and his wife Renae of Anchorage, Alaska, Charles Behrendt of Harlan, Iowa, Cory Behrendt, Ashley Behrendt, and Nicholas Behrendt; step-grandsons: Brandon Swisher of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Brent Swisher of Avoca, Iowa, and Brock Swisher of Millard, Nebraska; three great-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; sister Doris and her husband Don Jackson of Omaha, Nebraska; brother Cliff Behrendt and his wife Paula of Harlan, Iowa; other family members and many friends.
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