Benedict Joseph Konkel, age 89 of Kimberly died Friday morning November 10, 2006. He was born on January 27, 1917 in Bevent, Wisconsin the son of the late Leo A. and Francis (Cherek) Konkel. He was baptized at St. Ladislaus Catholic Church. On May 26, 1945 he married Geraldine Marie Ferge at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Milwaukee. She preceded him in death on March 18, 1982. He married JoAnn Choban at St. James Catholic Church in Amherst on June 26, 1986.
Ben attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a major in chemistry and completed additional Rubber Technology studies at the University of Akron. He was a 3rd Degree Member Council 607 Knights of Columbus and served as council recorder. He was a former member of the American Society of Spectroscopists and American Chemical Society (rubber division). Ben retired as a division manager from N.L. Kuehn Company in Milwaukee where he had worked for 34 years. He is a former resident of Whitefish Bay, Iola, Wisconsin and Fresno, California.
Ben is survived by his wife, JoAnn; step-daughters: Sandra (Mike) Wolfe of Tempe, Arizona and Jani Jo (Erik) Kovach of Laramie, Wyoming; grandchildren: Madeline and Zachary Kovach of Laramie, Wyoming; brother: George "Larry" (Viola) Konkel of Wittenberg, Wisconsin; sister: Lenore (Joseph Sr.) Sprangers of Iola, Wisconsin; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by four brothers and two sisters.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Appleton, 500 West Marquette Street, Father Tom Farrell officiating. A time of visitation and support will be held at the church from 4:00 p.m. until the time of the Mass. Inurnment will be at St. Joseph Cemetery in Wausau.
Memorials are appreciated to the American Cancer Society or Theda Care Hospice. Special thanks to the: Hospice Nurses, volunteers, and home health aides; the Visiting Nurses Association; and St. Paul Elder Care. Condolences may also be given online at www.seefeldfuneral.com.
Seefeld Funeral and Cremation Services
(920) 236-7750