Gwen L Behrens

LEXINGTON- Gwen L. Behrens, 88, loving wife and mother, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 22, 2014, at the Blue Water Hospice Home in Marysville, Michigan. She had been visited by her family and pastor in previous weeks. The former Gwen Loris Benkert, she was born in Saginaw, Michigan on March 11, 1926 to William and Anna Benkert. After losing her father at an early age, she and her young sisters learned to manage a household so her mother was freed to work outside the house. She lived most of her life in Michigan and was a graduate of Arthur Hill High School in Saginaw. Before starting a family, she worked as a secretary at the Saginaw law firm of Otto & Otto. While there, she met her loving husband and “best friend,” Clifford E. Behrens, to whom she was married for 65 wonderful years. After having children, she also worked as a secretary at the Board of Education for Okemos Public Schools, and later in the Finance Department for the City of Port Huron, where she retired in 1988. Over her lifetime she generously volunteered service at North Intermediate School in Saginaw as a Cub Scout and Brownie Scout leader, and officer in its Parent Teacher Organization; she supervised Summer Bible School at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Saginaw; and she contributed to innumerable bake sales and other fund raisers wherever she lived. Always a devoted wife and mother, she especially delighted in being with her family on birthdays and holidays, never missed an occasion to give or send a card and gift, and always enjoyed treating her family and friends to tasty meals and her scrumptious deserts. She loved to sing and knit, read and play bridge, and she adored chocolate. Her beautiful smile, comforting words and eternal optimism will be woefully missed by all who knew and loved her. She is survived by her husband, Clifford, of Port Huron; her sister, Marjorie Laube, of Saginaw; her sister, Doris Johnson, of Seattle, Washington; her son, Clifford, and daughter-in-law, Susan, of Madison, New Jersey; her daughter, Brenda Eisele, and son-in-law, Scott, of Avoca, Michigan; her son, Craig, and daughter-in-law, Dianna, of East Lansing, Michigan; and her daughter, Holly Behrens, of Traverse City, Michigan. In addition, she is also survived by grandsons Christopher Behrens of East Lansing, Michigan; Colin and Dylan Johnstone of Traverse City, Michigan and Kalamazoo, Michigan, respectively; Stuart Behrens of Nashville, Tennessee; and Jameson Eisele of Ann Arbor, Michigan. A funeral service will be held at 12:30 P.M. on Friday, June 27, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 7155 Huron Avenue (at UnionSt.) , Lexington, MI 48450, with visitation starting at 11:00 A.M.. A graveside service will follow immediately at the Lexington Municipal Cemetery. Arrangements are by the Pomeroy Funeral Home, Lexington. http://www.pomeroyfuneralhomes.com.

Gwen L Behrens

March 11, 1926 - June 22, 2014