Mrs. JOHN (Melba M. Meyer) BENEKE 1922-2007

MEINERS, MEYER, BENEKE, STAGGEMEYER, MCCORMICK, WAGNER, BREESER

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 3/22/2007 at 08:42:13

Melba Beneke

Melba M. Beneke, 84, of New Albin died Saturday, March 3, 2007 at Franciscan-Skemp Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 7, 2007 at St. John's United Church of Christ (Wheatland Church) rural New Albin. Rev. Paul Burgess will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the New Albin Community Center and from 10 a.m. until the time of service Wednesday at the church. Haugen-Roble-Jandt Funeral Home of Caledonia is in charge of arrangements.

Melba was born October 31, 1922 in Houston County, MN to Walter and Hulda (Meiners) Meyer. She graduated from Caledonia High School.

September 14, 1946 she married John Beneke at St. Peter's Church in New Albin. Together they farmed in Union City Township, Iowa for many years. In addition to farming, Melba worked as a nurse's aid at Northgate Care Center in Waukon and she volunteered for over 40 years at Makee Manor in rural Waukon. Melba was a member of St. John's U.C.C. (Wheatland Church), where she was active in the Women's Fellowship. She enjoyed gardening, quilting, and bird-watching.

Survivors include four children, Jane (Ken) Staggemeyer and Keith (Faye) Beneke, both of New Albin, Elizabeth (Tom) McCormick of Harpers Ferry, and Michelle (Bill) Wagner of Monona; 14 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one sister, Phyllis (Walt) Breeser of New Albin; two brothers, Gilman (Joan) Meyer of New Albin and Lorin Meyer of Bloomington, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

Melba was preceded in death by her husband August 24, 1992; a brother, Warren Meyer; and a sister-in-law, Leanna Meyer.

Waukon Standard, March 7, 2007