Theodore Joseph Behne 1911-1993

BEHNE, SAFTIG, THYE

Posted By: Deb (email)
Date: 3/20/2015 at 22:03:16

THEODORE J. BEHNE
Theodore Joseph Behne, 82, lifetime Burlington Citizen and veteran police officer, died Wednesday, Oct 6, 1993, while attending the Iowa State Police Associations annual conference in Waterloo.
Born May 5, 1911 in Burlington, he was the son of John and Clara Saftig Behne. He married Louise P. Thye June 29, 1938 St. Patricks Church in Burlington.
He was a graduate of St. Patrick's School and the Burlington Commercial School. He worked for Western Union and the Iowa Soap Co., then owned the Willy's Jeep franchise at the intersections of Corse and Mark Lane prior to World War II.
Mr. Behne worked for the Burlington Police Department for 25 years, beginning May 1, 1941. He served as patrolman, sergeant in charge of the school patrol, lieutenant and captain in charge of the city traffic department and chief of police.
Following his retirement from the police department, he became a lieutenant and then assistant chief of the Iowa Army Ammunition Plants Guard Force. He sold real estate for awhile and then helped organize the Des Moines County Sheriffs Department during the term of Rick Glick. In 1978 he opened Behne, Ellerhoff, and Lewis Realty with Ron Ellerhoff and Richard Lewis.
For the past five years he dedicated his time to serve as president of the Burlington Police Department's chapter of the Iowa state Police Association, Unit No. 3. During that time he conducted fund-raising events for the benefit of deceased police officers families. His last fund event, a country and western show at Burlington High School was in September 1993.
Mr. Behne was elected a delegate to represent the Burlington Police Association at the 1993 Conference of the Iowa State Police Association in Waterloo which he was attending at the time of his death.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter Bonnie Jean Wagenbach of rural Burlington; a son Theodore A. Behne of Burlington; two sisters Marie Meyer and Frances Gorman, both of Burlington 12 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother.
Friends may call after 8 am Friday at Lunning Chapel. Friends may attend a vigil service and visitation from 6 to 8 pm Friday at the Chapel.
The funeral for Mr. Behne will be 10:30 am Saturday at Lunning Chapel with the Rev. Michael Phillips officiating. Burial will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery.
A memorial has been established.