Benjamin Walter Marxhausen, 89, of Magnolia, Texas, went to our heavenly home to live with Jesus and all the saints on June 29, 2023.

Ben was born on October 27, 1933, to The Reverend E.J.A. and Aurelia J.M. (Schaefer) Marxhausen in Waltham, Minnesota.  He was the ninth born child and baptized into Christ on October 31, 1933.  Ben was confirmed in faith on March 30, 1947, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Courtland, Minnesota.  He met the love of his life, Joanne G. Prochnow, at a basketball game while attending Concordia University—Seward, Nebraska.  They married on Easter Sunday, April 6, 1958, 65 years ago.

In 1958, Ben graduated from Concordia University—Seward, Nebraska, with a Lutheran Teacher Diploma.  He held a Master's degree in art education and studio art from the University of Minnesota, and he completed postgraduate work in painting and sculpture at Eastern Michigan University, Chicago Art Institute, and the University of California, Irvine.  In 1996, Concordia University—Seward, Nebraska, conferred him with the Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree.  Dr. Benjamin Marxhausen was Professor Emeritus of Concordia University—Irvine, California, with over 40 years of service in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LC-MS) before he retired; and continued to serve in God's kingdom with his God-given gifts.

Ben taught in many Lutheran schools and three Concordia Universities: St. Paul, MN, Ann Arbor, MI, and Irvine, CA.  He served on the Board of Christian Education and Youth Board for the LC-MS and took active part in many National Youth Gatherings.  He enjoyed art, music, coaching basketball, and teaching elementary, high school, and college levels.  He illustrated Christian books, presented a T.V. series on the developmental stages of art in children, taught art among the mentally challenged at Bethesda Lutheran Home in Watertown, Wisconsin, designed and built chancel furnishings for churches, conducted numerous art workshops throughout the United States for adults and youth, served as an art consultant for architects, publishers, schools, churches; and created many paintings, sculptures, murals, and mobiles—all for the glory of God.

As an artist and university professor, Ben's most famous line was, "Art is life 'n life is an art."  His students knew he loved and cared for each one of them as special and important individuals created by God.

The things that made Ben the happiest and felt especially proud were "God allowing me to marry Joanne and for us to have three great children: Kim, Matthew, and Vaughn, and that they are married to three great people: Brian Bestian (Kim), Judy McDonald (Matthew), and Gail Jaquette (Vaughn)."  He had great joy in and loved his grandchildren: Keri (Bestian) Howell, Erik Bestian, Isaak Bestian, Cody Marxhausen, and Tyler Marxhausen and their God-fearing spouses: Jeffrey Howell (Keri), Emily Martens (Erik), and Jennifer Martens (Isaak).  He was especially fond of his two great-grandchildren, Olivia and Charlotte Howell.

Ben is preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Martin, John (Leorda), Reinhold (Dorris), Paul (Alice), Victor, and Naomi (Ormond and Louis).  Survivors are two sisters, Ruth (Charles) Kiecker and Marie (Jerry) Lodwig, sister-in-law Evelyn (Victor) Marxhausen, and many loving nieces and nephews, and all their families.  His life hope and goal for the family and himself was that we would all be together again some day with God in heaven.  Ben was steadfast in faith to the salvation of his soul.

[Jesus said,] "I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown."  Revelation 3:11