Arthur Benoit

Arthur James Benoit, affectionately known as Art or Artie, longtime Marshalltown, Iowa resident and well-known artist, passed away peacefully Monday morning, March 15th, 2010. He was at home under the care of Iowa River Hospice with his family by his side. He was 87 years old at his passing. Art has donated his body to Des Moines University Medical School.A memorial visitation will be from 1:00-4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 17, 2010, at Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to the family. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Art and his family.Art was born near Warren, Ohio on November 3, 1922, to Daisy Mae and Edmond J. Benoit. He was a well-known artist. A World War II Army Air Corps veteran with the 439th Paratrooper Division in England, he studied art on the GI Bill after the war at the Nottingham School of Art in England. He then returned to the United States and completed his degree at the Chicago Art Institute and married Margie Engelbrecht, also an artist, from Watseka, IL. They relocated from Chicago, IL to Marshalltown in the early 50s and while raising his family he worked for many years at Lennox Industries as their Art Director. During that time Art maintained a private art studio where he painted many portraits of local dignitaries and private individuals. At his retirement from Lennox he began his private career as a professional full-time artist using watercolor and oil. Art was a gifted artist. His talent was recognized first by his third grade teacher. His favored subject matter was Iowa landscapes and he painted in what some might call the manner of Andrew Wyeth, a notable Pennsylvania artist. When Pope John Paul II visited Iowa in 1979, Art was selected by Bishop Dingman of the Des Moines Diocese to paint a commemorative painting which was then presented to the Pope and now hangs in the Vatican Museum in Rome. During the last 7 years, Art enjoyed working at Mechdyne Corporation part-time in addition to painting.Throughout his illustrious and prolific career, this avid outdoorsman, golfer, fisherman, hunter, and archer was honored numerous times. In 1986 he was awarded Artist of the Year from Pheasants Forever and in 1982 he won Best of Show from Kansas City Crown Center. Through the years he helped create award-winning window displays at Stegmanns Sport Shop as well as the eastern section of the Memorial Coliseum mural in Marshalltown. Art loved cooking, gardening, classical music, a good sense of humor, and traveling with Teresa in pursuit of obtaining painting material.Art is survived by his wife and fellow artist Teresa Sharer Benoit of Laurel, IA; his daughters Renee Benoit of San Francisco, CA, and Antoinette Barnes of Thornton, CO; and his son Raoul of North Liberty, IA. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margie; his brothers Joseph and Robert; and his sister Rita. Art and family wish to express thanks to all those who have offered love and support through the trying times of his illness, especially those of Mechdyne Corporation and Iowa River Hospice. He will be greatly missed.