Jacob Benne

Jacob J.L. Benne

Newark/East Palmyra"Jacob Benne, 82, on Wednesday (April 11, 2007) at the Newark-Wayne Community Hospital.

Friends may call from 1-5 PM on Sunday (April 15th) at the Paul L. Murphy & Sons Funeral Home, 127 East Miller Street, Newark and from 1-2 PM on Monday (April 16th) at the East Palmyra Christian Reformed Church where funeral services will follow at 2 PM with Rev. Richard Oberg, Jr. officiating. Burial will be in the East Palmyra Cemetery.

Memorials in his name may be made to the East Palmyra Christian Reformed Church, 2057 East Palmyra Port Gibson Road, Palmyra, New York 14522.

Mr. Benne was born on June 14, 1924, in Grand Rapids, Michigan the son of Simon and Martha Blok Benne. He was a civil engineer, and worked for Seneca Foods for several years, before retiring in 1991. For many years, he worked for Lozier Engineers and Burgart Engineers, installing water lines in communities in the areas. Jake was a fighter pilot with the US Air Force during World War II, in the Pacific Theater. Before moving to the Newark Area, he was a deep-sea diver for Merritt & Chapman and was involved with the scavenging of the Normandy Luxury Liner in New York Harbor. Jake was a life long member of the East Palmyra Christian Reformed Church. He loved music, playing the violin, piano, organ and singing solos at the Church. Jake had been a member of the East Palmyra Fire Department.

He is survived by his children Arie (Shirley) of Plano, Tx., Roger (Fonda) of Newark and Kathleen (Norman) Barkman of Newark, seven grandchildren Lisa (James) Newby, Kevin (Wendy) Benne, Kathleen (Ben) Bremer, Jonathan (Jane) Benne, Kristin (Jeremy) Frey, Alisha and Arielle Geldorf, six great grandchildren Canyon and Timberlyn Benne, Dillon and Zoie Frey, Cooper Newby, Jacob Benne. Jake was predeceased by his wife Ruby Mae on Feb. 11, 2002.