Carl Arthur Behme, 91, of Carlinville, died on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 at his home surrounded by family.
Visitation will be at Ss. Mary & Joseph Church on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, from 4 to 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, Nov. 18, at 10 a.m. at Ss. Mary and Joseph Catholic Church with the Reverend Joe Koyickal, SAC. Davis- Anderson Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Mr. Behme was born Feb. 9, 1933, almost a century ago to Henry Christian and Clara (Rhodes) Behme in Brushy Mound Township. He farmed with his father starting in 1947 and 1948 and drove a D4 CAT for Brushy Mound Township. He graduated from Carlinville High School in 1950. After graduation, Mr. Behme went to work at Konneker Brown and continued to farm.
Mr. Behme married Mary Lou (Link) on April 11, 1953, and she preceded him in death on May 28, 2004. From that union eight children were born: Susan, Sharon, Annette, Carol, Jennifer, Christopher, Jeffrey and Gregory. He married Charlene Feiker Marischenn (sons: Patrick (Jenny) Osborne and Michael Osborne) on June 23, 2006, and she survives.
Mr. Behme had a visionary or pioneer spirit - he could see how things could be: how to make things better, how to make things grow. He was a founding member of Hog, Inc., (62 years, serving as president several times); founding member of Prairie State Gilts, serving as president as well as a founding member of Macoupin County Pork Producers, serving as president and in other offices. He received the 1964, 1965 and 1966 Illinois Top Pork Producer of the Year award.
Mr. Behme was active in Macoupin County Beef Producers; a founding member of Illinois Pork Pac; Macoupin County Farm Bureau Vice President, as well as chair of the building and grounds committee that purchased and built where it sits today. He was also president of the Catholic Cemetery Board for years and instrumental in setting up New Calvary Cemetery. Mr. Behme was a member of Ss. Mary and Joseph Church and served as an usher since the 1950’s, Eucharistic minister and on the Parish Council. Mr. Behme was also a Knights of Columbus member and was a founding member of the North Otter Watershed Drainage District and named Outstanding Young Farmer by the Carlinville JAYCEEs. In high school, he was active in FFA and received the state Farmer degree and the Dekalb High Yield Award in corn production.
A 1977 Master Farmer, Mr. Behme was also father to four county Pork Queens, one of which was IL State Pork Queen, three FFA Chapter Farmers, and two American Farmers. All eight children were ten or 11-year 4-H members and 14 grandchildren were/are 4-H members. The Behmes were 1988 IL Pork Producer Farm Family of the Year. Family and farming were Mr. Behme’s pride and joy.
Mr. Behme was preceded in death by his parents; wife Mary Lou; brothers, Henry Vincent, Floyd (Joyce), and Erwin (Barbara) Behme; six sisters, Myrtle (Stanley)Karrick, Iva (Richard) Loveless, Irene (Edgar) Peacock, Lela (Gilson) Robinson, Stella (Glenn) Coffey and Esther Fagerburg; and four grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife Charlene; five daughters, Susan (Dr. Larry) Jeisy, Sharon (Keith) Missey, Annette (James) Bellm, Carol (Randall) Tillman, Jennifer (Jerry) Titus; three sons, Christopher (Kelly), Jeffrey (Julie) and Gregory(Stefanie) Behme; and grandchildren Luke(Jenny) Behme, Richard (Rachael) Jeisy, Eric (Cameron) Bellm, Curt (Nicole) Jeisy, Andrew (Kelly) Bellm, Rachel Tillman, Rene’e (Dillon) Ruholl, Ryan (Whitney) Tillman, Tyler Behme, Victoria Titus, Claire Behme, Alexander Behme, Frank Titus, Mary, Ellie and Charlie Behme; 14 great-grandchildren; goddaughters Marianne Buhrow, Jayne Dumas and Kathleen Clark; sister Verna (Richard)Knudson and sister-in-law, Judy Behme; and over fifty nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to Calvary Cemetery Association, Wounded Warrior Fund, Macoupin County 4-H Foundation, or St. Jude. Please visit www.davisandersonfuneralhome.com to leave condolences or light a candle in his memory.
