Bennie Victor Janecka

Bennie Victor Janecka was born on Jan. 22, 1939, in Weimar, to Victor and Annie Janecka. He attended St. Michael’s Catholic School and Weimar High School where he played several sports and participated in ag-related classes. During those years, he was nicknamed “Fox.” He grew up on the family dairy farm with his sisters, Georgia Ann, Anna Lee and Linda. During this time, he met his wife of 60 years, Maedell Ann Meyer of Schulenburg. They were married on May 18, 1963, in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in High Hill, where they also celebrated their 50th anniversary. They lived in Houston for several years while Bennie started working for Graybar Electric.

In 1973, he transferred to Beaumont, where they raised four children, Mark, Melissa, Stacy and Jason. During those years, Bennie was involved in many organizations, including the American Cancer Society, Texas Pro Life, Gene and Lonnie’s Chili Cook Off, Little League, Cub and Boy Scouts, Men of Jude, Young Men’s Business League, and of course, the Knights of Columbus. Bennie and his family were founding members of St. Jude Catholic Church in Beaumont, and he also served on the Parks & Recreation Board for the City of Beaumont for many years. He served the YMBL for seven years on the Personal Division during the South Texas State Fair.

During his last year of fair duty, he found out about a vacant restaurantstyle food booth, which was to become the Beaumont Kitchen Crew. Bennie and Maedell started the fair booth in 1980 with friends, Bill and Kerry Ehrensberger, and Chuck and Mary Gradney. The Gradney family stayed with it a few years, but the Janecka and Ehrensberger families stayed with it until 2003 when the fair grounds relocated.

Knights of Columbus Council 951 was such a big part of his life. He was a Fourth Degree member and past Grand Knight. During those years, Bennie became friends with so many different people.

His humor really stood out. He was definitely the life of the party. Bennie was an avid softball player. He was a left-handed pitcher who struck out and embarrassed many batters. For 25 years, the “Beaumont Boys” went to Weimar in August and play in a softball tournament.

At the age of 62, Bennie retired from Graybar Electric, leaving him plenty of time to spend with his grandchildren, Haley, Haden, Madison, Dylan, Austin, Nolan and Riley. He thought one day he would move back to Weimar, but once the grandchildren came into the picture, that idea quickly changed. Bennie loved to work on their farms in Schulenburg and Weimar. He also loved to fish and did a lot of bass fishing at Fayette Lake and Sam Rayburn, where he had a camp. Bennie also fished in a retired fishing club around various lakes. During a tournament on Toledo Bend in heavy fog, he and his fishing partner heard an explosion and then heard splashing all around them. Those splashes were from the space shuttle Columbia.

On Monday, March 11, 2024, Bennie Janecka passed away in his home of 51 years with his wife, Maedell, by his side. For over 60 years, their love for each other is what most couples strive for but not many reach. It was an old-fashioned love that you just don’t see anymore.

Bennie was preceded in death by his parents, Victor and Anna; sister, Anna Lee Miller; and brothers-in-law, Joe Miller, Mike Lapham and Thomas Urban.

Survivors include his wife, Maedell; four children; six grandchildren; sisters, Georgia Ann Lapham and Linda Urban; brother-in-law, Elmer Meyer; sister-in-law, Dorothy Meyer; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions can be made to Knights of Columbus, Council No. 951, 9505 College St., Beaumont, TX 77707.

A gathering of Mr. Janecka’s family and friends was held from 5 to 7 p.m., with a rosary recited at 7 p.m., Friday, March 15, 2024, at Broussard’s in Beaumont. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 16, 2024, at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church in Beaumont.

An additional gathering of Mr. Janecka’s family and friends began at 1 p.m., with a rosary recited at 1:30 p.m., Monday, March 18, 2024, at St. Mary Catholic Church, High Hill, with interment following at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, High Hill.