Obituaries

Chicago, IL (June 07, 2016) – Rev. Robert Charles Behnke passed away on Saturday, June 4, 2016, at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park. He was a resident of St. Bede the Venerable Parish in Chicago and former Pastor of St. Barbara Parish. Fr. Behnke was 69 years old.  

Fr. Behnke was born in Chicago on March 29, 1947. He attended St. Priscilla and St. Francis Borgia Schools in Chicago, and Quigley Preparatory Seminary. Fr. Behnke earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Niles College of Loyola University, now known as St. Joseph College Seminary. He graduated from the University of St. Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary, earning his Master of Divinity and Bachelor of Sacred Theology degrees.  Fr. Behnke was ordained into the priesthood on May 9, 1973, by John Cardinal Cody, Archbishop of Chicago.

Fr. Behnke served as Associate Pastor at St. Therese of the Infant Jesus Parish in Chicago, closed in 1993 (1973-78); St. Mary Magdalene Parish on Marquette Avenue (1978-80); Queen of Martyrs Parish in Evergreen Park (in 2000); and St. Thomas More Parish in Chicago (2000-02). In 1980, Fr. Behnke was named Administrator of Assumption BVM Parish in West Pullman in Chicago, and served in that capacity until 1983, when he was named Pastor. The Parish eventually merged with St. Catherine of Genoa Parish and Fr. Behnke remained there until 2000. During his time at Assumption BVM, he was Administrator of SS. Peter and Paul Parish on Halsted Street in 1988 for almost three years. Fr. Behnke moved to St. Barbara Parish on Throop Street as Pastor in 2002 until 2006. From 2006 to 2016, Fr. Behnke was a resident of St. Thomas More Parish and St. Bede the Venerable Parish.

Very Rev. Esequiel Sanchez, Rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines and former Pastor of St. Bede the Venerable Parish, got to know Fr. Behnke while he was a resident of the Parish. He reflected, “Fr. Behnke was a priest that was dearly loved by the people of St. Bede the Venerable and other assignments he has served in. He was a man who deeply loved the liturgy, both the Extraordinary Form of the Mass and the Novus Ordo. He was a deep thinker, principled and a good friend.”

Fr. Edward M. Mikolajczyk, Pastor of Queen of Martyrs Parish in Evergreen Park, was classmates with Fr. Behnke. He said, “Fr. Behnke did a lot of good work in the African American community. He had a wonderful singing voice and a great love of music.” Fr. Mikolajczyk continued, “He truly had a love for the people of the parishes he served. He loved the liturgy and always really enjoyed celebrating Mass.”

Fr. Behnke will lie in state on Wednesday, June 8, from 3 to 7:30 p.m., at St. Bede the Venerable Parish, 8200 South Kostner Avenue in Chicago. A Liturgical Wake Service will be celebrated at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will begin again on Thursday, June 9, from 10 to 11 a.m., followed by the Funeral Mass for Fr. Behnke, which will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Fr. Esequiel Sanchez will be the main celebrant and homilist. Most Rev. John R. Gorman, Retired Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, will preside in choir dress.

Interment will take place at St. Joseph Cemetery in River Grove.

Fr. Behnke is survived by a brother, David P. (Carol) Behnke, and a niece, Laura Behnke.