David L. Benne

David was a gentle, quiet family man who had a great sense of humor and enjoyed life. His family remembers him for his love, generosity, caring, and selfless hard work for his family.

Born in Jefferson City, Missouri in 1928, the son of John Bernard Benne Sr. and Lillie Mae (Meisner) Benne. Raised in a German Catholic environment, he loved soccer, boxing and family. After high school, David joined the Air Force and was a radio instructor during the Korean War. While stationed near St. Louis he met, Kaye Lutz of Belle Glade Florida, the love of his life! They were married in 1952 and Dave enrolled in Tri State College, Angola Indiana, where he received a BS in Radio and Electrical Engineering.

After graduation they moved to Florida and eventually settled in Satellite Beach in 1958 where he started to work for Convair a division of General Dynamics at Cape Canaveral. In 1957 they adopted a son Richard and in 1960 a daughter Karen. With Convair he trained in computers, a work that he really loved. He was part of the team that launched the Atlas Centaurs rockets that carried the Voyager and Mariner satellites into space. He retired in 1986.

In the 60’s, the family bought a 75-acre pine tree farm near Livingston Tennessee known as Chigger Hill. There the family spent many adventurous and fun filled summers loved by all.

He and his wife loved to camp and travel in their RV and were able to camp in all the continental states of America. They travelled annually, for over 30 years, both in the USA and internationally; to China, South America and multiple times to Europe.

They helped to raise their grandchildren, danced weekly with the Allemanders Square dancers, and Rocky Water Cloggers and had a great group of friends that loved to, dance, play cards, camp in their RV’s, travel, dine and socialize. David and Kaye both, had rich and wonderful lives, and will be sorely missed.

David is survived by two children; his son Richard A. Benne with wife Susanne and their children David and Hanna of Satellite Beach, and Jana Reich of Orlando Florida and

Their daughter, Karen (Benne) Tootoo with her two children, daughter Tonya with her husband Xiaodong Chen and Son Ernie with his wife Nicole and their children Ernie, Carter, Sawyer and on the way Reign David, who all live in Houston Texas. His only remaining sibling is his sister Lillie Agnes Luebbering of Sedalia, Missouri and her children, grandchildren and great children. He also leaves behind his dog Patches. His Wife Kaye, his parents and all of his brothers Joe, Bernard, Bob and Ray, preceded David in death.

Services will be held Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at 11:00 AM, (Visitation starts at 10:30 AM) at

Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 3050 North Highway A1A, Indialantic, Florida followed by burial at Florida Memorial, 5950 South US Highway 1, Rockledge, Florida.

David liked Red Roses and they can be sent to the Life Center at Florida Memorial. Address above.

There will be a reception held from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at River Rocks Restaurant, 6485 South US Highway 1, Rockledge, FL.