Bernard H. “Ben” Hermesch, 94, of Seneca, KS, died April 22, 2008 at Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.

He was born December 8, 1913, on a farm east of Kelly, KS, the son of Fred and Mary Wessel Hermesch, the oldest son and one of 16 children. He grew up in Kelly, attended St. Bede’s School in Kelly, and helped on the family farm.

Ben married Mildred Lehmkuhl on September 24, 1941 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Fidelity. She survives of the home. The couple was fortunate to celebrate 66 years of marriage. They farmed north of Wetmore until 1985, when they built a new home and moved to Seneca.

Ben was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church at Seneca, a former member of St. James Catholic Church in Wetmore, the Knights of Columbus #1769 in Seneca, and the Wetmore and Seneca Lions Club for 40 years.

He enjoyed playing cards (pitch, canasta, and pinochle) at the Knights of Columbus, and helping with the Lion’s pancake feeds and other meals at the lake. He also took pleasure in being outdoors—taking walks or being a spectator at ballgames. During his “retirement”, he would deliver flowers for the local flower shop and mowed the lawn for CR Industries. Ben loved his wife’s pies and could never turn down a slice of pie.

He will be missed dearly by his wife Mildred; their daughter Betty and her husband Jerry Banaka of Manhattan; a brother, Lawrence of Alamosa, IA; and a sister, Theresa Winkler of Seneca.

Ben was preceded in death by a son Jerry; seven brothers, Kenneth, Albert, Frank, Raymond, Ed, Lambert, and Fred Hermesch; and six sisters, Lucy Hermesch, Anna Brokamp, Rita Buser Perdue, Agnes Rempe, Mary Brucken and Sr. Amanda.

Mass of Christian burial will be 11 AM Friday, April 25, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Thursday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for the American Diabetes Association or Audio Readers Digest, and sent in care of the family.