BURENS, Benjamin J. 1925-2013

BURENS, MACKEY, WALKER, BLASER, PLISS

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 2/12/2013 at 17:07:27

[Waterloo Courier, Thursday, January 10, 2013]

Benjamin J. Burens, 87, of Emmetsburg, formerly of Waterloo, was born in Walthill, Neb., on Nov. 7, 1925, the son of Benjamin and Dora (Mackey) Burens. He was raised on the Winnebago Indian Reservation in Nebraska, and at the age of 18 joined the U.S. Navy and served aboard the USS Fremont in San Francisco. He spent two years in the Philippines before being honorably discharged.

Ben had seven children that he brought from the reservation to Waterloo. He worked for Olson Construction where he helped to build the UNI-Dome, and he farmed north of Waterloo.

Ben did his best to keep his seven children together after their mother abandoned them. He retired from Viking Pump in 1983. After several years of retirement in Waterloo, he moved to Emmetsburg in 2005 to be near his daughter and granddaughter.

He loved spending time with his younger brother John and his beloved cat, Bugsy. Ben enjoyed woodworking, building birdhouses and sitting on the porch taking in the scenery.

On Jan. 2, 2013, Ben passed away at the Muse-Norris Hospice Unit, Mason City.

Survivors include four daughters, Bev Walker and Junior of Emmetsburg, Flora Blaser of Adel, Liz Pliss and Rod of Sloan and Victoria Burens of Sacramento, Calif.; three sons, Dennis Burens of Kingsland, Ga., Dan Burens and Linda of Sylacauga, Ala., and Terry Burens and Victoria of Beaver Dam, Wis.; a brother, John Burens of West Bend; 13 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and a great-great grandchild on the way.

Ben was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Albert.

Services were held Saturday at Joyce Funeral Home, Emmetsburg. Graveside services and military rites were held at Garden of Memories Cemetery, Waterloo.

Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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