Benjamin Hornberg

Benjamin L. Hornberg, 78, of Albion, died late Thursday, September 18th, at the VA Hospital in Des Moines with his loving family at his side. A memorial gathering to celebrate his life will be held from 1-3:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 5th, (PLEASE NOTE DATE) at the Dakins Community Center in Zearing. A 3:00 p.m. memorial service will follow. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Ben and his family. Ph. 641-844-1234. Born on March 19th, 1936, at home in Marshall County, he was the 3rd son of Henry and Grace (Mills) Hornberg, Sr. He attended school in Van Cleve, Conrad and Green Mountain and then served our country honorably in the United States Marines Corps, enlisting in 1954 and stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. On May 20th, 1956, he was united in marriage to Patricia Benson at the 1st United Church of Christ in Marshalltown. In January of the following year, they returned to Iowa. To their union, five children were born: Deb, Ben, Jr., Cheri, Dennis and Gary. They lived in Jacksonville, N.C., Marshalltown, Burleson, TX, Boone, Lehigh, Zearing and Albion. Ben was employed at KIOWA, Lennox, farmed, did road construction, owned and operated Ben and Pats Cape Fair Bait and Tackle in Cape Fair, MO, and the Chicago-Northwestern Railroad (also serving as union steward). He retired in 1989 and the couple returned to be near their family in 1993. Ben enjoyed all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and all of their sports. He made a point of traveling up from Missouri to his granddaughter Wendys Basketball Games and state tournament games. He also enjoyed camping, fishing, playing cards, pool and time at the Marshalltown Senior Citizens Center (Ben served as president of the Senior Citizens Board). Left to cherish his memory are Pat, his loving wife of 58 years, his children: Deb Buffington of Colo; Ben (Connie) Hornberg of Clinton; Cheri (Cal) Pearson of Roland, and Gary Hornberg of Zearing, grandchildren- Wendy (Scott) Stensland of Kelley; Clint Buffington of Colo; Nick (Afton) Pearson of Ames; Tyler Pearson of Roland; Derek (Sarah) Hornberg of Iowa City; and Dustin Hornberg of Clinton, great-grandchildren- Holly Johnson; John Johnson, Eli Pearson; Emarie Pearson; Bria Pearson, Caleb and Hannah Stensland and one on the way. Also surviving are his brother Don Hornberg as well as many nieces, nephews and friends. In death, Ben rejoined his parents, his son Dennis in 1978, brother Hank (Shirley), sister Pearl, brother-in-law Mackey, sister Viola, mother-in-law and father-in-law, son-in-law John Buffington in 2010, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.