Herb Behnke, a Shawano County conservation activist who died in December, is getting one more accolade for his lifetime of working on issues that impacted Wisconsin’s hunters and fishermen.
The Wisconsin Conservation Congress recently presented Herb’s wife, Lenore Behnke, a certificate recognizing his contribution to the congress and the state.
John Hoeffs, Shawano County Conservation delegate chair, said that the honor was more than earned.
“Herb served on the Conservation Congress, and he was on the Natural Resources Board for about 20 years. Before that, he served on the Shawano County Conservation Congress as a delegate,” Hoeffs said. “He was just a good, stand-up guy when it came to conservation needs.”
“I think it’s very kind of them to recognize his service,” Lenore Behnke said. “It’s something he really would have appreciated.”
Lenore Behnke said her husband, who grew up on a dairy farm in Lena, believed that conservation was an important issue to the people of Wisconsin.
“He always felt that the sportsperson was the one he was fighting for,” she said. “The average man or woman on the street, he wanted there to be land for all of them. Hunting privileges are worth it.”
Herb Behnke graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and worked for Badger Breeders Cooperative until 1989, when he retired. He was appointed to the Wolf River Basin Regional Planning Commission by Gov. Gaylord Nelson in 1967. In 1968, he was appointed to the Natural Resources Board by Gov. Warren Knowles.
Behnke served on the Natural Resources Board until 1972, then returned to the board in 1989 after being appointed by Gov. Tommy Thompson. His second stint lasted until 2007, including serving as chair of the board from 1993-97.
In 2009, he was inducted into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame. A portion of the lower Wolf River basin is named in his honor.
Over the years, he earned many different awards and recognitions, including being named one of the top 20 Wisconsin conservationists of the 20th century by Wisconsin Outdoor Journal.
For Hoeffs, Behnke’s biggest impact was as an advocate statewide for Shawano County,
“He backed our county. That’s what we needed here,” Hoeffs said. “I think he did a super job for Shawano County. He was a sportsman himself, so he knew all about it.
“Whenever he represented, he was fair. I know I appeared in front of the board with him. I know he did a good job. He was well-liked.”
Lenore Behnke said her husband got involved in conservation issues in his 20s.
“He was friends with conservation wardens and heavily involved in the Conservation Congress at the time, and he just natural progressed, became active and felt it was extremely worthwhile,” she said.
story created on Thursday 7/3/2014 at 4:22:33 pm by Gerrard Diaz
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