Bennie Hennis

Bennie Lee Hennis, 85, passed away at the Iowa River Hospice House surrounded by his loving family on July 25, 2016. Memorial services will be held at St. Henrys Catholic Church on Friday, July 29, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. with a public visitation held the night before, Thursday, from 5-7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m, also at the church. Military Honors will be provided by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #839 and by American Legion Posts in the Marshalltown area. For condolences please contact www.mitchellfh.com or call (641)-844-1234. Memorials may be made to the family to be used at a later date in Bennies name. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Bennie and his family at this time. Bennie was one of four children born to his loving parents, Leland and Mary (Dravis) Hennis. He was born in Marshalltown at the Mercy Hospital on May 30, 1931. He graduated from the Lamoille High School in 1949. Bennie honorably served his country in the United States Navy and was deployed on the U.S.S. Norris 859 Destroyer. After Bennies service he returned to Marshalltown and was soon married to the beautiful Evelyn Lang. The two made their home in Marshalltown and raised four children. Bennie was always looking to help others and this drive lead him to take employment at the Marshalltown Fire Department; a bittersweet birthday gift, he started his watch on May 30, 1960 and retired on May 30, 1986. After his work with the fire department, Bennie could be seen driving a truck for almost every company in Marshalltown. Bennie was a member of St. Henrys Catholic Church since 1958, the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion and the I.F.F. Bennie was an outdoorsman in every sense of the word, an avid fisherman, hunter and a boating enthusiast. He also had a gift with motors and fixed many in his years. When he got a little free time he could be seen riding around town on his motorcycle. In the winter Bennie and Evelyn would head to Arizona and would camp and visit grandchildren. The two made this trip every year from 1995 until 2013. Bennie was a jack of all trades and a master repairman. If something broke around the house Bennie had his own version of fixing things that he fondly called Hennize. After his fix you were assured that it would work but with no guarantee on how long it would last. Left to cherish Bennies memory are his wife of 60 years, Evelyn; children, DeAnna (Dan) Daters of Marshalltown, Kevin (Kim) Hennis of Phoenix, AZ, Kari (Scott) Riemenschneider of Marshalltown, and David (Beth) Hennis of Gilbert, AZ; ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and sisters, Mary Snyder and Judy Beckham. Bennie is preceded in death by his parents, Leland and Mary; brother, Dale Hennis; brothers-in-law, Chuck Snyder and Terry Beckham; and niece, Amy Beckham.