IRONS, Benjamin Francis --- 1918-2011

THOMPSON, IRONS, MAGNUSSON, CARLYLE, TERWILLIGER, ZARWELL, KARCZEWSKI, MELLEM, HAAR, SMILEY, STYRWOLL, BROOKS, ZEINER, STRONG

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 5/25/2011 at 18:13:54

Ben Irons

Benjamin Francis Irons completed his journey down the river of life March 28, 2011 at the age of 93 years, one month, and 11 days. He passed away peacefully at Thornton Manor in Lansing, where he had been a resident since November of 2008. In accordance with Ben’s wishes, there will be no visitation or service. A private family celebration of life will be held at a later date. As requested, Ben will be cremated and make his final journey upstream to the site of the ”Irons shanty.” He will be missed beyond measure.
Ben was born February 17, 1918 in Bellevue to Ernest “Pat” and Ruth (Thompson) Irons, the second of 14 children. Ben was about three years of age when the Irons family moved upstream to another Mississippi River town, New Albin, where Ben spent the rest of his formative years.
Ben’s most cherished childhood memories were of his summer days spent with his older brother Jack at their Grandpa Bill “Cook” Irons’ farm shanty, situated on Big Slough in the backwaters of the Mississippi River, midway between New Albin and Lansing. The boys helped their grandpa with farming operations, commercial fishing and guiding services.
Ben’s idyllic days of farming and fishing on Big Slough came to an end when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began constructing the lock and dam system. Their beloved shanty became headquarters for the Corps during this construction period. In the end, Grandpa Bill’s shanty was burned to the ground, and their river lifestyle became but a distant memory. However, Ben remained tied to the river as an avid fisherman and hunter.
During the school year, weekends were often spent in the river bottoms with Ben’s brothers, cutting firewood for the family and hauling it to town by horse and cutter. Ben also worked with his father harvesting ice from the river, which they delivered and stacked in several ice houses around town. Always looking for ways to help his family, Ben was willing to take any job that came along. Throughout his high school days, he worked in the “Cloverleaf” grocery store, made deliveries for his grandpa’s dray service, and hired out for farm work.
Ben graduated from New Albin High School in 1935, where he excelled in basketball and baseball. His love of music led him to play drums in the school band, and later with orchestras that traveled to nearby towns to entertain at local celebrations.
In June of 1935, Ben enlisted in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which was created in 1933 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide work for young men during the Great Depression. Ben learned to operate heavy equipment while working on resource conservation projects, earning $30 a month, of which $25 was sent home to his family. One winter was so brutal that the men were forced to rip up floorboards in their barracks to burn for heat until the weather improved. During his 45 months in the CCC, Ben helped construct the Decorah Fish Hatchery, and Backbone State Park near Strawberry Point. Throughout his life Ben took great pride in his work. Today, a life-size silhouette of Ben running a jackhammer graces the Backbone State Park Museum.
Ben was honored to be selected as a member of the CCC color guard for President Franklin D. Roosevelt when the President’s train stopped in Oelwein October 9, 1936 as part of FDR’s “Whistle Stop” tour. Ben was stationed within 15 feet of the President as he addressed the crowd. In March of 1939, Ben was honorably discharged from the CCC.
Ben’s natural athletic skills did not go unnoticed. Not only did he play baseball and football on the CCC teams, but he was also recruited to play baseball for Decorah, Oelwein and Lansing town teams. He once played basketball against a team that was part of the Harlem Globetrotters organization, and also played baseball against a barnstorming team known as the Texas Black Spiders. He was a dedicated fan of the Lansing-New Albin Kee Hawks, Iowa Hawkeyes, Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Braves, always searching newspapers and TV for scores and stats.
May 25, 1940, Ben was united in marriage to Elsie Magnusson, daughter of Herman and Mattie (Carlyle) Magnusson, of Lansing. Two daughters, Gail and Betty, and one son, Jerry, were born to this union. The Irons family made its permanent home in Lansing - one block from the Mississippi River.
In the early years of their marriage, Ben was employed by G. J. Lowe Construction of Marion operating heavy equipment on road construction projects in Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa. Ben enlisted in the Navy Seabees during World War II, where his skill operating heavy equipment served him well. His tour of duty with the 103rd Construction Battalion took him to the Caroline Islands and Guam in the Pacific where the Seabees constructed weather stations, roads and airfields. The war ended the night their ship landed on Guam. April 4, 1946, Ben was honorably discharged from the Navy Seabees, and he returned to his family in Lansing.
Ben initially went back to work for Lowe Construction Company, but was eager to find work closer to home. In November of 1946 he secured a position with Bates and Rogers Construction Company of Chicago, building the new Interstate Power Company plant near Lansing on the banks of the river he loved. Ben would eventually become a heavy equipment operator for the new Interstate Power Company, unloading coal barges, filling coal bunkers, and taking care of the equipment as if it were his own. Because he understood the entire operation of the power plant, Ben was often called upon to give tours of the plant. He could identify a towboat by the sound of its engine as it passed by Lansing in the night. Ben retired in February of 1983, just two months short of 35 years of service to Interstate Power Company.
Ben was a member of the Lansing Volunteer Fire Department, proudly serving for 24 years. He was a charter member of the Lansing VFW, and later joined the Lansing American Legion.
Ben was a student of the world who never lost his thirst for knowledge. He was an avid reader who loved to quote statistics, keeping abreast of world events, sports, and the Mississippi River. He could always tell you the river stage and how many barges had locked through that week.
Ben could be described much as his grandfather once was, “A man of retiring disposition who had a faculty of attending strictly to his own affairs.” He was a gentle soul and honest to the core. Ben’s word was his bond, and, to him, a handshake was as good as a signed legal document. He was always there for family and friends, never asking for anything in return. A child of the Great Depression and a proud, but humble, member of the Greatest Generation, Ben could fix almost anything, and relished the challenge.
One of the fondest memories Ben’s children and grandchildren will always cherish is their boat rides with him through the backwaters of the Mississippi River between Lansing and New Albin. He knew the river like the back of his hand, and the name of every slough. Ben loved relating stories of the “good old days.” With each new generation, he shared his vast knowledge of fishing, hunting, and the Mississippi River. Each good-bye followed the same loving ritual (no matter the length of separation) - an exchange of farewell hugs and kisses, and ending with a heartfelt “ Love you.”
Left to mourn Ben are his wife Elsie; his children, Gail Terwilliger, Betty (Ric) Zarwell, all of Lansing, and Jerry (Nancy) Irons of Holmen, WI; 10 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Wayne (Mary) Irons of Davenport; and five sisters, Laura Karczewski of Chicago, IL, Barbara Mellem of Prairie du Chien, WI, Marjorie Haar of Oelwein, Beverly (Loren) Smiley of Kewaunee, WI, and Karen Styrwoll of Warroad, MN; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding Ben in death were his parents, Ernest “Pat” and Ruth Irons; four brothers, John “Jack” (Jean) Irons, Robert (Catherine) Irons, Homer (age 10) and Lewis (age three); and three sisters, Dorothy Brooks, Ruth Zeiner, and Lorna Strong.
Thornburg-Devries Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

The Waukon Standard, April 6, 2011

Allamakee Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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