Wendell R. Benson

Wendell R. Benson (86) died December 31, 2011 at the Iowa River Hospice in Marshalltown.A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, January 6 at 10:30 AM at St. Marys Church in Marshalltown. Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 5 from 5 to 7 PM with a vigil at 7 PM at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. Wendell is survived by his wife of 62 years, Arlene (Peterschmidt) Benson of Marshalltown; their five children, Connie (Jim) Stansberry of Marshalltown, David (Sue) Benson of Ames, Dan (Vicki) Benson of Port Washington, Wisconsin, Carol (Rob) Mosley of Overland Park, Kansas, and John (Sheri) Benson of Kansas City, Missouri; fifteen grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.Wendell was born Aug. 3, 1925, in Rolette County, North Dakota, and was raised and attended school in LaMoille, Iowa. He served in the US Navy submarine service during World War II. After the war he majored in journalism at Iowa State College in Ames and then became a reporter and eventually the managing editor of the Marshalltown Times-Republican. Wendell served on the boards of directors of Mercy Hospital and Marshalltown Medical and Surgical Center in Marshalltown. He was on the founding committee for the American Legion Golf Course in Marshalltown and was charter president of Marshalltown Matins Kiwanis. Wendell was an appointed member of the Iowa Health Facilities Council and the Iowa Employment Appeal Board. Wendell also held leadership positions in the Knights of Columbus, Lenihan High School Booster Club, Iowa Daily Press Association, American Legion Post 46, and Iowa submarine veterans organizations. He was a long-time member of St. Marys Catholic Church. In retirement he enjoyed gardening, wood working, and spending time with his children and their families. He is preceded in death by his parents and his siblings -- Irma Brockman, Imogene Huston and Harold Benson. In addition to his family, Wendell is survived and loved by many nieces and nephews. Memorials may be directed to St. Marys Church or Iowa River Hospice.