Mr. Elmer ‘Lee’ Behmlander, of Bay City, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday evening, April 30, 2016 at McLaren Bay Region, age 66. The son of the late Elmer A. and Kathryn R. ‘Kate’ (Diamond) Behmlander, he was born on April 25, 1950 in Bay City. Lee has been a lifelong member of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Frankenlust and is currently a member of its Men’s Club. He attended school at St. Paul Lutheran School and then T.L. Handy High School. Lee served his country in the U.S. Army. He was retired from Grey Iron Foundry in Saginaw. In his spare time, Lee liked to bowl, fish and golf and he enjoyed woodworking.
Lee is survived by his wife, Patricia; his step-son, Shawn Ackley of Bay City; his granddaughter, Tanner Behmlander; his K-9 children, Buddy, Gizmo and Madison; his sister and brother-in-law, Ann Houghtaling and Jim Krzysiak of Bay City; a niece, Laramie Fraser; two nephews, Mark (Rebecca) Krzysiak and Paul (Felixa) Krzysiak; several great nieces and nephews; two brothers-in-law, George (Diane) Kruchkow and Greg Kruchkow; a sister-in-law, Judy Ousterhout; and special friends, Kellie and Jimmy Smith and Makayla Smith. Besides his parents, Lee was also preceded in death by his son, Dean Behmlander; his brother, Merle Behmlander; and his mother-in-law, Laura Kruchkow.
The Funeral Service will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at St. Paul Lutheran Church of Frankenlust. Officiating will be Rev. Theodore E. Voll. Interment will be in St. Paul Cemetery followed by Military Honors conducted by the U.S. Army and the Bay County Veterans Council. Friends may call at the Gephart Funeral Home on Tuesday from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. Mr. Behmlander will lie instate at the church on Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church Memorial Fund. www.gephartfuneralhome.com