Benjamin Waknitz

Benjamin "Ben" Waknitz, age 86, of rural Waldorf, died peacefully on September 20, 2013, at his home following a recent illness.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 24, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Waldorf, with the Reverend Michael Mathews, officiating. Interment will be held at the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held at the Arnoldt-McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory of Janesville on Monday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and for one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday. There will be an 8:00 p.m. prayer service at the funeral home on Monday evening.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Mayo Clinic Heath System's Hospice Program or Palliative Care Program in memory of Ben.

Benjamin Theodore Fredrick, the son of August and Emma (Radtke) Waknitz, was born on July 3, 1927 in Vivian Township, Waseca County, Minnesota. He attended rural country school and graduated from Waldorf High School with the class of 1945. On August 23, 1950, Ben was united in marriage to Doris Lau at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Janesville. They first resided on Ben's parents land before purchasing their current farm in Freedom Township in 1970, which gave him the opportunity to raise hogs and farm the land for many years. He enjoyed operating the road grader for Freedom Township for many years. Ben also worked at the Waseca Hy-Vee in the garden center and also as a part-time postal clerk in Waldorf.

Besides farming and spending time with his family, Ben enjoyed woodworking, fishing, decorating the yard for Christmas, tending to his rose bushes and gardening. Ben was a long-time member of First Lutheran where he was actively involved in the Sunday School Board of Education, being a Trustee, Elder and Secretary for many years.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Doris of rural Waldorf; his children, Rick (Sally) Waknitz of Ellendale, Cheryl (Ralph) Dobberstein of New Richland, and Brenda (Paul) Carey of Mapleton; his grandchildren and their families, Jeremy (Melissa) Waknitz and children, Courtney, Brianna, Brooklyn, Ben, Carter, and Caitlyn, Justin (Gwyn Quiram) Waknitz and children, Whitney, Bethany, and Anna Belle, Lori (James) Sodeman and children, Taylor, Breyden, and Jacey, Dustin (Courtney) Dobberstein and children, Anna, Benjamin, Carson, Canon, and Connor Parker, Amy (Casey) Nelson and children, Andy and Cali, Katie (Scott) Demmer and son Isaac, Hannah (Sven) Hoaglund, Emily (Matt) Gerardy, Kellie Carey and Ben Carey; his siblings, Verona (Mayme) Dick of Waterville, NY, Armin (Audrey) Waknitz of Mankato, Dorothy (Dale) Baldwin of Albert Lea, Ted (Audrey) Waknitz of Mankato, and Phillip (Ginny) Radtke of Bloomington; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Fran Waknitz of Grimes, Iowa, Delores Lau of Waseca, Charlotte Anderegg of Janesville, Arlene Braun of Pemberton, Betty (Leo) Prechel of Waseca, and Sharon (Marlin) Boyd of Waterville; and by many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his mother and father-in-law; brothers, Myron "Mike" Waknitz and James Waknitz in infancy; brothers and sisters-in-law, Herb Dick Sr., Richard Lau, Marvin Lau, Wilfred Lau, Willard (Marilynn) Lau, Ken (Jeanette) Lau, and Lawrence Braun.