Ben E. Wickel

Ben E. Wickel, 86 of Brenham, passed away Saturday morning, May 22, 2004 in Trinity Care Center.

Ben was born in the Greenvine community on July 28, 1917 to Adolph and Louise Makowsky Wickel. He was baptized on Aug. 19, 1917 by Rev. L. Hoefer in the Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Greenvine and confirmed in the same church on March 20, 1932 by Rev. Carl Ziehe. He attended Greenvine Elementary School. Ben served three years in the U.S. Army, 23rd Infantry Division at Fort Sam Houston. He married Helen Peters on December 14, 1940 in Lutheran Church of Salem. She passed away on April 6, 2004. He was a member of Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church for 47 years, where he sang in the senior choir and the men’s choir and was a member of the Senior Citizens of the church. Ben was retired from Brenham Wholesale after working 37 years as shipping clerk and forklift driver. After retiring, he worked part time as an attendant for Brenham Memorial Chapel.

Mr. Wickel is survived by his nieces and nephews: Marjorie Schroeder, Travis and Shirley Boeker, Verlin Wickel, Jerry Roehe, Thomas Roehe; sister-in-law Norma Roehe and numerous great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; stepmother, Paula Voekel Wickel; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Fred and Minnie Peters; his wife, Helen Peters Wickel; brother Felix Wickel and wife Esther; sisters Ella Wehmeyer and husband Alvin, Lilly Wickel, Milda Wickel; one niece; two nephews; and one brother-in-law.

Visitation will be from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Sunday, May 23, 2004 in Brenham Memorial Chapel

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, May 24, 2004 in Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church of Salem with Pastors Bill Derrick and Mike Widner officiating. Interment will follow in Prairie Lea Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be: Travis Boeker, Troy Browne, Thomas Roehe, Edgar Lentz, Jerry Wickel, Elton B. Anderson, Jr., Lonnie Addicks, Freddy Eberhardt and Dr. Ron Bartay.

Honorary pallbearers include: Herbert Schulze, Jr., Allen Wickel, Erwin Grawunder, Walter Richter, Billy Wickel, Edgar Lee Lentz, and Clifford Brisbin.

Memorials may be given to Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church of Salem.

Funeral services are in the care of Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer St., Brenham. 979-836-3611