Theresa A. Behling

Age 105, died Thursday, November 7, 2002 at her home. Theresa was born in the township of Harrison on May 22, 1897, the daughter of the late Ernest and Anna (Schicker) Luniak. She was the eighth child born of fourteen, and was the last to survive. On April 20, 1920, she married Ray Behling at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Darboy. Ray preceded her in death on October 2, 1993. Theresa was a member of Holy Name Church, the Catholic Order of Foresters, and the William Verhagen Post #60 American Legion Auxiliary. She was raised in Darboy and had many stories to share about her beloved family, friends, and neighbors. She lived on a farm, worked for various families, and dated by horse and buggy!

Ray and Theresa built their home close to the church and school and close to Ray’s work, so he wouldn’t have to deal with the horse. She lived in this same house until the time of her death. They also built a cottage on Roberts Lake in Wabeno, where family and friends gathered to fish, hunt, pick berries, and play cards. She loved the view of the lake and watching the trees change color in the fall. Theresa loved to sew, and up until she was nearly 102 years old she could be seen working on her old pedal-operated Singer sewing machine. She sewed for her brothers, sisters, children, friends, and neighbors. She also enjoyed crocheting doilies and doll blankets and hats for her little cupie dolls which she gave to her grandchildren. She was still crocheting just a few weeks prior to her death. She loved to cut out pictures from magazines and carefully pasted them into scrapbooks, which the children enjoyed looking at when they came to visit. Her favorite pastime was playing sheephead. Her bedtime in the later years was at 9:00 PM, but if the cards were being dealt, the time on the clock didn’t matter. Most of the older grandchildren were taught the game by her while in grade school. She also enjoyed old musical movies and would watch them with her caregivers over and over in the evenings. Her door was always open and her candy dish was always full. She loved visitors; family and friends were always coming and going. She always had stories to tell, children to love, and her prayer book at her side. Theresa had a wonderful sense of humor, and loved to make people laugh. Many were touched by her humor and sharp wit. Even in her last days, she loved to be teased, and made humorous remarks that we all will remember.

Survivors include her six sons: Ray (Steena) Behling of Combined Locks; Art (Marge) Behling of Hilbert; Ken (Ruby) Behling of Anderson, CA; Cyril (Joanie) Behling of Combined Locks; Jerome ‘Bucky” Behling of Darboy; Dan (Dot) Behling of Kimberly; two daughters: Rose Erwin of Arlington, TX and Colette Kampo of Little Chute; two special granddaughters: Vikki Graf and Betsy Behling; twenty-five grandchildren; thirty-eight great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, a daughter: Eleanor (Bob) Braun, three sons-in-law: Wade Murphy, Lloyd Erwin, Alex Kampo; a granddaughter: Barbara Westley; a grandson: Mark Behling; her parents, and thirteen brothers and sisters.

Theresa’s wish was to remain in her home and her wish was granted with the help of her family and an army of angels from the various agencies that helped care for her. Thank you to Outagamie County Aging Services who sent Carol Johnson to us. Carol worked with the family until her retirement and then Jennifer Schneider took over and continued to work with the family along with Theresa’s caseworker Sue Paveletzke. Thank you to the many volunteers who delivered Theresa’s meals, both from Outagamie County and Holy Name Church. Thank you also to Preferred Home HealthCare, the nurses and bath attendants, with special thanks to Joyce Eisele and Molly Zemlock. Theresa had a special bond with Molly and couldn’t wait for her visits. Thank you to Holy Name Parish from bringing prayers and communion. Special thanks to Sister Annette for her frequent visits, Pete and Rikka Wydeven, Althea Valentyne, and to Theresa’s special neighbor Evie Hopfensperger for her weekly visits.

Additional thanks to Home Instead’s Steve Nooyen, Bonnie Joosten, Christy Kolb, and John Tomasich for their many visits and for sending their group of caring and compassionate angels that Theresa and her family loved and respected. Our gratitude also goes to Lisa Wiedenhoeft and Linda Hanley for the many extra hours that they helped the family with the last few weeks. Thank you also to caregivers: Lisa Wiedenhoeft, Linda Hanley, Fran Fargen, Jan Pierce, Mary Lou Morgan, Angela Deeg, LuAnn Vandenberg, Catherine Rollman, Marjorie Weyers, Roxane Kesselhon, Linda Giese, Ali Garland, Darlene Bagstad, Dawn Van Denzen, Norma Hamilton, Melissa Rastall, Ramona Weaver, Natania King, Mary Leiterman, Jennifer Slick, Kari Hietpas, Dorothy Muggenthaler, Deb Kowalke, Stephani Green, Carrie Zeutzius, Mary Jones, Nicole Rue, Joelle DeMarco, and Susan Stephens.

The funeral liturgy for Theresa will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, November 1, 2002 at HOLY NAME CATHOLIC CHURCH, 600 E. Kimberly Avenue in Kimberly, with Fr. Dennis Bergsbaken officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday from 4 – 7 PM and again at the church on Tuesday from 10 AM until the hour of the service. There will be an American Legion Auxiliary prayer service at 6:45 PM Monday and the funeral home and a parish prayer and scripture service at 7:00 PM.

Jansen Fargo Funeral Home
204 E. Kimberly Avenue
Kimberly, Wisconsin 54136
920-788-6202