Our beloved father and grandfather, Henry Berthold Bennetsen, 92, passed away peacefully on March 6, 2025.  Henry was born on November 26, 1932 on the family farm in Yoakum, Texas to Otto and Albina Bennetsen, and he was the oldest of twelve children.

Henry attended school at the Yoakum Pilot Grove School, and attended Lutheran church.  Henry married Leona Lucille Frieda on Mothers Day, May 8, 1955 at the Lutheran Church in Sublime, Texas.  To this union was born five children; Rex Bennetsen, Sherry Bennetsen Taylor, Delton Bennetsen, Clinton Bennetsen and Darla Bennetsen George.

Henry’s life revolved around Jesus Christ, his family, love of gardening and being one of the finest fiddle players in the country, having at one time being in the Southernaires Band and opening for such  headliners as Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash at the Louisiana Hayride Music Show.  Henry also worked for many years at Brown & Root and was a commercial shrimper in Seadrift, where he raised his family.  Henry later lived for 50 years in the Brazoria, Tx. area married to Doris Steadham.  After Doris’ passing, Henry moved back to Seadrift where he enjoyed the last seven years of his wonderful life.  Henry is now reunited in heaven with his band buddies, fiddling his favorite song, the Orange Blossom Special.

Henry is survived by four children; Rex (Mittie) Bennetsen of Victoria, Sherry (Rod) Taylor of Seadrift, Clint Bennetsen of Rockport and Darla (David) George of La Mesa, California.  Also three brothers; Raymond, Leon and Kenneth Bennetsen of Yoakum, and two sisters; Doris Ann McCord of Sweet Home and Carrie Lynn Spencer of Yoakum.  And 6 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, along with NUMEROUS nieces and nephews.

Henry was preceded in death by his parents; son, Delton Bennetsen; three brothers, Morris, Melvin and Charlie Bennetsen; three sisters, Helen Mareth, Annie Mae Bennetsen and Jerlene DeBault; and a grandchild, Christopher Bowman.

A private ceremony with family was held on March 12, at the Seadrift Cemetery, with Pastor Tim Smith officiating.  Funeral services were handled by Grace Funeral Home in Port Lavaca.  And a special Thank You to the wonderful people of Hospice of South Texas, and also to private caregivers Gwyn Cormier and Linda Twiner.

Robert Wayne Sloan, 69, passed away on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. Born on July 8, 1955 in Houston, TX. Robert was the son of the late David and Marilyn Sloan. He is survived by his sister, Diane Barber and two brothers, Ken Sloan and Stan Sloan.

After graduating from Sharpstown HS, Robert earned his BS in Journalism at Sam Houston State and spent his career as an outdoors sports writer for numerous fishing and hunting publications. Robert was an avid outdoorsman with a passion for salt water fly fishing and duck hunting in Port O’Connor. He holds four Texas state salt water fly fishing records.

A Celebration of Life service will be held in Port O’Connor, TX at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Hospice of South Texas or to the CCA Chapter in Port O’Connor.

Dieter Erhard and Petra Beck

Dieter Erhard lives a stone throw away of the Der Beck bakery headquarter in the city of Erlangen. With 150 shops and 1500 employees Der Beck is a great example for German middle class. Dieter was asked to design an artwork for its new bread production which is now hosted in a 23.000.000 USD  building and machinery at 24.000.000 USD including a big bistro. Petra and Siegfried Beck said .. but please not a stereotype bakerman!

The chosen design out of three  proposals is a 22 foot Flower made of stainless tubing, holding plexiglass discs with lasercut writing inlays. The bakery slogans found in the upper circles are tasteful (orange),  live (blue) and passion (red). The kiwi green leaves include at each theme three leading words such as water, craftmanship and region amongst others. Dieters work breaks up the architectural lines of the building and gives it a coulorful look.

His new work, the Texas Alligator, will soon be shown at the Kronach City Light Festival starting the 25th of April for nine days.

The Hooked-on Books Club gathered for another enjoyable meeting on Tuesday, March 11^th to discuss Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.  The heartwarming and beautifully written novel captivated everyone with its unique perspective and emotional depth.

Hostesses Annie Seay, Michelle Lippold, Kim Hall, Beth Smith, and Cindy Hansen showcased remarkable creativity and mindfulness to detail in embracing the novel’s theme. Guests were captivated by the international editions of Remarkably Bright Creatures that were on display, food, and beverages.

To begin our  “confinement” of the afternoon, an engaging icebreaker activity inspired by Marcellus and Tova added to the excitement at the start of the meeting. Participants embraced their inner Marcellus, searching through their purses for a specific “treasure” to present to the group, adding an extra layer of excitement to the start of the meeting.

To pay tribute to Marcellus and his sneaky, snack-loving ways, the hostesses curated a seafood-inspired menu served on octopus-themed plates, and attendees dove into the offerings, which included shrimp tartlets, crab dip, pickled shrimp, Marcellus-themed veggies and dip, a palm tree fruit tray, and a fresh green salad. The meal was delightfully concluded with Annie’s infamous bread pudding with whiskey sauce.

In the “ocean water” section of the meeting room, a variety of beverages were available. These included Blue Lagoon Cocktails crafted with vodka, lemonade, and Blue Curaçao liqueur, along with spa water infused with lemons, limes, and cucumber. A variety of wines were available for tasting. In honor of the novel’s Washington state setting, Hostess Michelle Lippold’s roots, Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonnay was a special treat.

Several book club members wore nautical clothing. Several shirts were made with fish print, one had coastal shells and Beth had an octopus t-shirt.

As usual, the participants commenced the meeting with a discussion of characters, quotes from the book, and discussion questions. The group also had a lively conversation about the novel’s blend of human connection, healing, and mystery — all told in part through the unexpected narrator, Marcellus the octopus. Many members praised the author’s imaginative storytelling and characters, especially the sections written from Marcellus’s perspective, which added humor and heart to the story.

Members who had viewed the Netflix documentary film, My Octopus Teacher, in which a filmmaker forges a relationship with an octopus, to view the documentary as an enrichment to the reading. Annie showed a YouTube highlight video for a few moments.  Giant Pacific Octopus Facts were read along with notes about the author.

Several attendees shared their favorite scenes and moments, with Marcellus’s witty commentary stealing the spotlight more than once, such as the parts where Marcellus starts with the number of days he has been in captivity. The bittersweet ending also prompted reflection, with members agreeing that it was both hopeful and realistic.

Book club members gave Remarkably Bright Creatures glowing reviews, describing it as charming, thought-provoking, and unlike anything they had read before.

All Book club ladies took home a bookmark with a notable quote from Marcellus: “Humans. For the most part, you are dull and blundering. But occasionally, you can be remarkably bright creatures.”

The Book Club’s next meeting will be on April 8^th and the members voted to read Up Island by Ann Rivers Siddon for the upcoming April meeting. We look forward to another great discussion! If you would like to join “Hooked on Books,” please email your contact information to alanehaardt@yahoo.com.  All are welcome!