Frederick Louis Behrends (Lou) was born on January 29, 1932 in Peoria, Illinois to Frederick Rudolph Behrends and Lorena Menke Behrends of Havana, Illinois. He married the love of his life and best friend, Joanne Faye Showalter on June 30, 1956 in Richmond Virginia.
Lou graduated from the University of Illinois and then went into the US Army. He was stationed at Fort Bragg, NC and was a First Lieutenant with the 82 Airborne Division, as a U.S. Army Paratrooper. During his time in the Army he became a certified Master Jumper, a Parachute Rigger and Army Quartermaster. He and Joanne moved back to Champaign Urbana Illinois where Lou received his degree in Corporate Law from the University of Illinois graduating in 1959 at the top of his class.
After obtaining his law degree, Lou and Joanne then moved to Peoria, Illinois he joined the firm of Davis and Morgan. After several years with Davis and Morgan he branched out and started his own Law Firm, Behrends Law Offices in Peoria, Illinois and then, Behrends and Gentry Law Firm. His practice focused primarily on Business and Corporate Law and Estate Planning. He represented a wide spectrum of businesses from Mom & Pop to Fortune 500 companies. Lou practiced law for over 55 years. He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Illinois and became a member of Roswell United Methodist Church in Roswell, Georgia in 2014.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Joanne Showalter Behrends, and both his parents. Surviving are his three daughters, Jennifer Mautz (the late Jeffrey) of Roswell, Juli Behrends of Orlando, Florida, and Jodi Wallace (Jim) of Alpharetta, Georgia, and by his grandson, Jimmy Wallace, also of Alpharetta.
A private family graveside burial was held at Greenlawn Cemetery in Roswell, October 13, 2018 officiated by Reverend Dr. Tom Davis.
Memorials may be made to the University of Illinois Foundation College of Law.
Condolences to the family may be sent to: Ms. J. B. Mautz 4651 Woodstock Road Suite#208 Roswell, GA 30075.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18