BENEDICT HENRY ‘BEN’ WOLKEN

Benedict Henry “Ben” Wolken was born on the family farm in Anderson County, Kan., May 20, 1924, and died Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, at the age of 85 years, after a brief stay at the Golden Heights Living Center in Garnett, Kan. Ben was the seventh of nine children born to Joseph “Joe” and Laura (Egidy) Wolken.

Ben was a lifetime member of St. Boniface Catholic Church at Scipio, Kan.

He was a traditional farmer/stockman, having raised all significant species of livestock at one time or another. Being a bachelor on the farm kept him close by to care for his animals on a daily basis.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Laura; sisters, Bertha Kempf and her husband, Leonard, Bernice Pfannes and her husband, Leonard, Leona Crossley and her husband, Donald; brothers, Adolph, Lawrence and his wife Margret (Sobba), Bernard, and infant Vitas.

He is survived by his sister, Ann, whose husband was the late Conrad (Coonie) Hermreck; sister-in-law, Anna Marie (Mrs. Bernard Wolken); 28 of his 31 nieces and nephews; and many great nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Scipio, Kan., where a rosary will be said at 6:30 p.m. Friday, followed by family and friends visitation from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The family suggests memorial contributions to St. Boniface Catholic Church, in care of Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory St., Ottawa KS 66067. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through dengelmortuary@sbcglobal.net and made at www.ottawaherald.com.