Otto Behnken

Otto H. Behnken, 86, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Monday, June 26, 2017, at Caring Acres Nursing & Rehab in Anita, Iowa.

Otto was born March 9, 1931, in Cass County, Iowa, to Otto and Pauline (Mott) Behnken. He grew up in the Wiota area and graduated from the Wiota High School in 1949. Otto was a resident of the Wiota and Atlantic area all of his life.

On January 12, 1952, he married Donna L. Schwanke at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic, Iowa.

He farmed south of Wiota. Otto also worked evenings for Valley Oil Company for thirty years. He served in the US Army and was stationed in Germany during the Korean Conflict. Otto was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic, IA and he was also a member of the German-American Society in Omaha, NE. He enjoyed fishing, motorcycles and NASCAR, but his passion was farming.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Donna in 2004.

Surviving Otto are his daughters, Linda Marxen of Atlantic, IA and Kris (Jeff) Schuler of Atlantic, IA; a son, Steve Behnken of Anita, IA; 13 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; cousins, other relatives and friends.

Open visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 29, 2017, at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, June 30, 2017, at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic, IA with burial in the First Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery south of Wiota, IA.

Memorials are preferred to the family’s wishes.