Bernhard "Ben" L Schoenrock

Bernhard L. (Ben) Schoenrock was born September 6, 1929, on a farm by Gladstone to Arthur A. and Matilda (Ehmen) Schoenrock. Ben was baptized and confirmed in the East Gladstone Church. He attended grade school starting at District 100. The family lived in Hebron, Jansen, and west of Fairbury.

Ben served in the Korean War from 1952 to 1953 with the 809 Engineers. He married Jean Marie Beggs at her family home in Washington, Kansas, on August 5, 1951. Ben and Jean lived and farmed five miles west of Fairbury before moving to town. They had six daughters, Rebecca, Ramona, Mary, Johanna, Valeria, and Elizabeth.

In his early years, Ben worked for Hein’s Construction doing road and terrace work. He was a volunteer rural fireman starting in 1965 and served as department chief. Ben was president of the volunteer rural fireman board. He also served as a member of the Little Blue Watershed Board. Ben and Jean retired from farming in 2007.

Ben enjoyed playing pitch especially with his Monday night card partners at Pioneers Inn in Gilead. He delighted in feeding and watching the finches and squirrels in his yard. Ben also enjoyed watching the Royals and the Chiefs. He was a member of the United Methodist Church of Fairbury.

Ben is preceded in death by his wife, Jean; sister and brother-in-law, Rose Marie and Robert Cook; parents, Arthur A. and Mathilda Schoenrock; son-in-law, Jack Zabokrtsky; niece, Lori Cook.

He is survived by the following family:

Daughters, Rebecca Zabokrtsky, Fairbury; Ramona Schoenrock, Lincoln; Mary (Barry) DeJong, Omaha; Johanna Slater (Roger Pliefke), Steele City; Valeria Judds, Lincoln; and Elizabeth (George) Keilwitz, Hebron.

Grandchildren:

Travis (Jacki) Zabokrtsky, Marla (Ryan) Strunk, Annie (Paul) Erichsen, Maggie (Justin) Pryor, Jessica (Sam) Heineman, Tyler (Kelsee) DeJong, Sarah (Corey) Amill, Dustin (Tabatha Durre) Slater, Wesley (Abbie) Slater, Jennifer Slater, Logan Slater, Nick Samland, Schuyler Judds, and Dakota Judds.

Step grandchildren: James and (Amber) Pliefke and Shannon and (Stacey) Shannon Owens

Great grandchildren:

Tray Zabokrtsky, Tori Zabokrtsky, Dawson Strunk, Clayton Strunk, Ashlee Erichsen, Ben Erichsen, Hadleigh Pryor, Avery Pryor, Della Heineman, Landree DeJong, Calvin DeJong, Marlee Amill, Reese Amill, Corbin Slater, Emersynn Slater, Coleman Slater, Courtney Slater, Kennedy Slater, and Wyatt Samland.

Step great grandchildren:

Lynsey Weekley and Josh Weekley

Brother and sister-in-law, Rudy and Shirley Schoenrock, Colorado; nieces, Sharon Ard, Debbie Cook, Christine Burgess; nephews, Rick Schoenrock and Douglas Cook.

Services will be at 10:30 am on Thursday March 21, 2019 at the United Methodist Church in Fairbury, with Pastor Victory Peterson officiating. The family will greet friends Wednesday March 20th from 6 to 8 pm at the Funeral Home. Burial at the Fairbury Cemetery. Memorials to the Fairbury VFW or United Methodist Church in Lieu of flowers.