A Former-Member of Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes
(Baptized on July 7, 1929 and Confirmed on March 17, 1940 at Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes)

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BENKE

Ralph Benke, age 78, passed away Sunday, October 9, 2005.  Ralph left home in the summer of 1943 to join the Navy and to fight in the Pacific War.  He served on an aircraft carrier at Iwo Jima and Okinawa.  His carrier was part of the fleet accepting the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay.  He transferred to the Coast Guard in 1946.  He served in Korea, Alaska, and the Aleutian Islands (light house duty) before transferring to New York for duty in the Atlantic.  After retiring from the Coast Guard he joined Civil Service and was in charge of the Coast Guard Depot machine shop located in Brooklyn, N.Y.  He built equipment used in Vietnam and installed it at Da Nang where he came under fire making him a veteran of three wars.  Ralph was an outdoors man who hunted and fished all over the world.  Mr. Benke is survived by his daughters Pearl Stoller & husband Bill of Sequim, Washington, Rolena Redner of Port Angeles, Washington, eight grandchildren & eight great-grandchilden; brothers Lloyd Benke & wife Betty of San Antonio, TX, & James Lee Benke & wife Maxine, his very special caregiver for the past year and a half.  A visitation will be held 6-8:00 P.M., Sunday, October 16, 2005, at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be conducted 10:00 A.M. Monday, October 17, 2005, at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home Chapel.  Interment will follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Helotes, TX.  Please join us in honoring Ralph, by visiting our memorial at www.mem.com and share your thoughts and fond memories with our family.  Sunset Northwest Funeral Home.