Henry Eugene Behr of Fort Worth, Texas peacefully passed away on February 23, 2021. He was born in Bloomington, Illinois, August 7, 1921, the son of Carl E. Behr and Ethel Forister Behr.
Hank attended Bloomington High School, Colgate University and graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia, with a Bachelors’ degree in Journalism. He also briefly served stateside in the U.S. Army. He subsequently worked in advertising agencies in Chicago, including Leo Burnett Company, where he was fortunate to meet his future wife, Suzanne. After several years in the advertising business, Hank later became self-employed owning an industrial food products brokerage company from which he ultimately retired. Enjoying actively managing a family farm in Saybrook, Illinois, he also served as an officer of The Chicago Farmers organization and was a ten-year volunteer at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
After living in the same home in Glenview, Illinois for 46 years, Hank and Sue moved to Fort Worth in 2003 to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Shortly after arriving in Fort Worth, Hank began volunteering at Cook Children's Medical Center and Fort Worth Botanic Garden.
Hank enjoyed a long and loving life with Sue and was devoted to his children and grandchildren. Grateful for several memorable European trips, he also appreciated reading his New Yorker magazines and numerous cookbooks scouring for new bread and soup recipes. Over the years, he enjoyed photography with his Leica 35mm camera, playing the guitar, the companionship of his dogs, blue berries for breakfast, and listening to Viennese and Klezmer music. Most of all, Hank loved spending time with his family and was so grateful for their love and support. Hank was always caring, empathetic and sensitive to others, and met life’s ups and downs with benevolence and grace: a life well and beautifully lived. What will be missed most by his family are Hank's wit and finely tuned sense of humor and his kind, sweet and gentle disposition. He will be sorely missed.
The family wishes to express its most heartfelt appreciation to his physician, Dr. Roger S. Eppstein with USMD and for his team of loving and gentle caregivers, Aubrey Boyles, RN/Case Manager and others with Community Healthcare of Texas, and personal caregivers Barbara Grimes, Teyon Gibson and Taicha Harris. The family is so grateful to all of them for making Hank's last days the most comfortable.
Hank is survived by Sue, his wife of nearly 65 years, his daughter Carolyn Behr Presnall, son, William G. Behr, grandchildren Chandler Presnall, Chanie Presnall Crawford and husband Travis, and Gavin F. Behr, all of Fort Worth. Hank is also survived by his brother Carl E. Behr, Jr of Highland Park, Illinois and his daughter, Sally Behr and husband Bob McDonald of Madison, Wisconsin and their daughter, Maya McDonald of Chicago, Illinois, and his son, Fritz Behr and his wife, Margaret and their son Ryan Behr and his wife Beth and daughter Whitney Behr all of Middleton, Wisconsin. Hank is preceded in death by his parents and his son, Robert F. Behr.
A burial service in Illinois is planned for later in the year. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society or Community Healthcare of Texas.
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