Coach Paul "Fred" Fredrick Benien III, 55, of Rosenberg, Texas, passed unexpectedly on August 30, 2019, in Van Vleck, Texas.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Burl McKinney Stadium, Van Vleck, Texas, on Saturday, September 7, 2019, at 6:30 p.m.

Paul was born July 30, 1964, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Paul and Mary Ellen Slemaker Benien.

He attended Putnam City High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He pursued his passion to play football at Northeast Oklahoma A&M and Southeast Missouri State University.

Paul coached high school football in Santa Fe, Guymon, and Blackwell, Oklahoma, and in Livingston, Bay City, and Van Vleck, Texas. He coached collegiate football at Oklahoma Panhandle State University and Southwestern College, Kansas.

He lived to help his students find their untapped potential whether it was in the classroom, the weight room, on the fields or on the courts. He helped students grow their confidence, their mental and physical strengths, and challenge them to strive for success. #pushthroughyourheels #shootyourhips

He is survived by his mother, Mary Ellen Slemaker Benien; his father and spouse, Dr. Paul Frederick and Bonnie Benien Jr.; his sister Mary Margaret Benien; his sister and spouse, Shannon and Nancy Benien-Elix; his wife, Kimberly Stroud Benien; his daughter, Jessica Maeve; his step-daughter and her spouse, Jaime and Lesli Contreras; his 4 step-sons and their spouses, Brian and Jerica Lamach, Alben and Miranda Lamach, Brad and Shelby Lamach, Brice and Leighanne Rivera Lamach; 8 grandchildren, 4 nephews and 2 nieces.

He is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Richard West and Ruth Rumley Slemaker; his paternal grandparents, Dr. Paul Frederick and Kathreen Fandel Benien Sr.; and grandson, Ryker James Lamach.