Ben E. Pohnert was born the son of Hugo Fred Pohnert and Maggie Davis Pohnert on May 10, 1917 at Mammoth Spring, Arkansas and departed this life June 5, 2011 at Ozarks Medical Center in West Plains, Missouri at the age of 94 years.
He was united in marriage December 24, 1936 in Alton, Missouri to Lorene Pingleton.
He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Lorene Pohnert, of the home in Thayer, Missouri; one son, Donald Rex Pohnert and wife, Sammie Jo of White Deer, Texas; one daughter, Dolly Ruth Jewel of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; four grandchildren, Dudley Rex Pohnert and wife, Cindy of White Deer, Texas, D’Lisa Dawn Pohnert of Amarillo, Texas, James David “Jamie” Pohnert and wife, Kirsten of Canyon, Texas and Deidre Dawn Farless and husband, Devin of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; three great grandchildren, Lane, Jordan and Chandler; three step grandchildren, Barbara Judah, Pamela Loftus and Sydnei Farless; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Hugo and Maggie Pohnert; one son-in-law, Don Jewel; five brothers, Harvey, Charles, Henry, Fred and Paul Pohnert and three sisters, Hazel Hubbard, Lois Brandt and Betty Angotti.
Ben was a conductor for the Frisco Railroad, retiring after 35 years of service. He was a Christian man and a faithful member of the Thayer Free Will Baptist Church. He was instrumental in the organization of the church and served as a Deacon and Trustee for over 60 years.
He will be remembered as a devoted husband, a loving father, grandfather “pa-paw”, uncle and loyal friend. He will truly be missed by his family, his church family, friends and the neighborhood in which he lived.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 10:00 AM at the Thayer Free Will Baptist Church in Thayer with Brother Richard Robinson officiating. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Thayer Cemetery with services under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc. in Thayer.
