Joe W.G. Behlau April 13, 1923 – February 07, 2019 Share this obituary Send Flowers View/Sign Guest Book| Send Private Condolences| Send Sympathy Card Joe W.G. Behlau was born April 13, 1923 in Rochester, NY to Walter George Behlau and Mable (Knapp) Behlau. Joe was the second of four children; their mother died at the birth of the last. The children were raised by their father and their Grandmother who was born in Germany.
Joe’s father lost his nursery business during the Great Depression and the children sold their Grandmother’s baked goods door to door; their Father eventually got a job as manager of the nursery dept at Sears-Roebuck. Often as many as three families of relatives lived in a house together pooling their res. Joe grew up spending most days at the nearest WPA built swimming pool.
Before entering the 9th grade, he won the Rochester Junior Diving Championship. When he attended West High School in Rochester, he was twice recognized in the National Inter-Scholastic Guide as an All- American diver. During WWII, Joe volunteered for the Army Air Corps where he flew as a navigator.
At the end of the war, he had attained the rank of Captain in the United States Air Force. He was awarded an Air Medal with 3 Oak leaf clusters and a Purple Heart for injuries sustained while flying 35 missions over Germany. Joe was discharged in 1947 and entered Washington State College on a swimming scholarship, then in 1951 after having completed one semester at Gonzaga Law School in Spokane, WA he was recalled to the Air Force for service during the Korean War.
While instructing at Randolph Field in San Antonio in 1952 he met and married Bobbye Alexander from Lampasas. He was discharged again at rank of Lt. Colonel in the reserves and remained in reserves until he retired in 1983.
He finished his Bachelor of Science degree at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and started another career as a golf professional. That career included building several facilities and designing one as well. In 2005 the Behlaus retired in Lampasas where they have attended St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and promoted the Keystone Square Museum and Preservation Lampasas.
Joe was a life member of the Professional Golf Association; a charter member of the WWII Memorial in Louisiana, a member of the Purple Heart Association in San Antonio and the American Legion in Lampasas. He was a real patriot and so believed in the two party system of government that he always contributed to both Democratic and Republican Parties. HE was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Bobbye Alexander Behlau.
He is survived by his son, Robert Alexander Behlau of Aquilla, TX, nephews Edward Behlau of Arlington, TX and Jerry Behlau of Rochester, NY Funeral service will be held Wednesday February 13, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Lampasas. Burial will be in Davis Cemetery near Briggs, TX. Visitation will be Tuesday Feb 12, 2019 from 5-7 p.m. at Sneed Funeral Chapel.
In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to PGA drive, chip and putt program or ST. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Lampasas, Texas.
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