Ben Kelm, 92, went to Heaven October 10, 2009. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Lorine Kelm, his brother Harvey Kelm and wife Bernice, his sisters-in-law Adeline and Dorothy Kelm, his daughter Elveira Hildebrandt and husband Lester, his sons Larry Kelm, Ray Kelm and wife Jane LaHaye, Ron Kelm and wife Sherry. He leaves behind grandchildren Craig Hildebrandt and wife Julie, Susan Edmonds and husband Jason, Julie Stewart, Brian Kelm, Jeffrey Kelm, Nicole Wylie and husband Keir, Christopher Kelm and wife Rachel. Ben was also blessed with 6 great-grandchildren Katylyn, Emily and Ben Stewart, Brandon and Katelyn Edmonds and Brielle Wylie. Arriving in Heaven before him were his sister Gertrude and husband Oscar Kieschnick, and his brothers Wilbert and Calvin Kelm.
Ben enjoyed a long and healthy life, born February 27, 1917 in a Christian home to parents Hermann and Alma Zoch Kelm who saw to it he was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Walburg Texas on March 18, 1917 and also confirmed there on March 29, 1931. He attended Zion’s school through seventh grade and then began working fulltime on his parent’s farm near Walburg. He married Lorine Ruth Bamsch at Zion on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1941. Ben and Lorine continued farming through 1952 after which they moved to Houston, Texas with their four children, where they faithfully attended Immanuel Lutheran Church in Houston’s Heights area. Ben worked for Southern Pacific Transport as a truck driver for the next 20 years and then took early retirement to move back to Jarrell, where for the next 32 years he enjoyed a slower pace of life that included gardening, ranching, homebuilding, fishing, sausage making, and barbecuing, while continuing to be faithful at his original church, Zion.
In 1991, Ben and Lorine renewed their wedding vows and celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in Georgetown Texas, the same town in which they honeymooned 50 years prior. In 2004, as day-to-day life became more strenuous, Ben and Lorine made their second move to Houston to be close to the kids they’d left behind, attending St. Mark Lutheran while living there with Ron and Sherry. Ben spent his final year in a loving personal care facility in Houston that became his final home on Earth. While holding his loyal and loving wife’s hand, Ben peacefully breathed two long breaths and left his body and this world to be with Jesus.
Zion Lutheran Church
Zion Lutheran Church
Zion Lutheran Cemetery
Ben Kelm, 92, went to Heaven October 10, 2009. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Lorine Kelm, his brother Harvey Kelm and wife Bernice, his sisters-in-law Adeline and Dorothy Kelm, his daughter Elveira Hildebrandt and husband Lester, his sons Larry Kelm, Ray Kelm and wife Jane LaHaye, Ron Kelm and wife Sherry. He leaves behind grandchildren Craig Hildebrandt and wife Julie, Susan Edmonds and husband Jason, Julie Stewart, Brian Kelm, Jeffrey Kelm, Nicole Wylie and husband Keir, Christopher Kelm and wife Rachel. Ben was also blessed with 6 great-grandchildren Katylyn, Emily and Ben Stewart, Brandon and Katelyn Edmonds and Brielle Wylie. Arriving in Heaven before him were his sister Gertrude and husband Oscar Kieschnick, and his brothers Wilbert and Calvin Kelm.
Ben enjoyed a long and healthy life, born February 27, 1917 in a Christian home to parents Hermann and Alma Zoch Kelm who saw to it he was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Walburg Texas on March 18, 1917 and also confirmed there on March 29, 1931. He attended Zion’s school through seventh grade and then began working fulltime on his parent’s farm near Walburg. He married Lorine Ruth Bamsch at Zion on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1941. Ben and Lorine continued farming through 1952 after which they moved to Houston, Texas with their four children, where they faithfully attended Immanuel Lutheran Church in Houston’s Heights area. Ben worked for Southern Pacific Transport as a truck driver for the next 20 years and then took early retirement to move back to Jarrell, where for the next 32 years he enjoyed a slower pace of life that included gardening, ranching, homebuilding, fishing, sausage making, and barbecuing, while continuing to be faithful at his original church, Zion.
In 1991, Ben and Lorine renewed their wedding vows and celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in Georgetown Texas, the same town in which they honeymooned 50 years prior. In 2004, as day-to-day life became more strenuous, Ben and Lorine made their second move to Houston to be close to the kids they’d left behind, attending St. Mark Lutheran while living there with Ron and Sherry. Ben spent his final year in a loving personal care facility in Houston that became his final home on Earth. While holding his loyal and loving wife’s hand, Ben peacefully breathed two long breaths and left his body and this world to be with Jesus.
Zion Lutheran Church and School
6001 FM 1105, Georgetown, TX 78626.
Website Link
Uncle Benny could never understand why I never learned to play 42! I remember his amazement at me for not learning, like it was un-american. And then he would follow that up with that little smile he had. I will always remember that smile and those paper route mornings I spent with Ronnie and Uncle Benny making sure we were doing it right! He will be missed. Love Sandy
I love Uncle Benny. He gave me my first ride on a tractor and I still cherish the time he took me and Ron rabbit hunting.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. We praise God for Uncle Ben's long and meaningful life on earth and take comfort in knowing he is now with our heavenly Father.
On behalf of my entire family, I want to thank you and your staff for your excellent and caring service.
Thank you for all you did to make our mother's funeral special, dignified, and easy for us.
I just can't express to you enough how much we appreciated the kindness and professionalism my family experienced with you and your staff.
Thank you for treating my beloved mother with honor and respect all throughout the process.
Our family will be forever grateful to the owner and staff at Beresford Funeral Services for the excellent services they provided to our family upon the death of our loved one. Everything went smoothly. The planning was easy with everything needed for the funeral provided on sight at reasonable prices with no pressure to spend more than planned. They were flexible with our personal plans, very kind, and considerate from beginning to end. We would definitely recommend Beresford Funeral Services to anyone in need of funeral services.
Guest Book
Sign Guestbook