Pensel, Alma (Benskin) 1912-2013

PENSEL, BRUNER, BENSKIN, IHM, TOMKINS, PENROD, FRENCH

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:23

Alma Pensel, age 100, of Guttenberg, IA, died Wednesday, January 9, 2013, at the Guttenberg Care Center.

She was born in Greeley, Colorado on February 13, 1912 to John William (Bill) and Ethel (Bruner) Benskin. Alma moved from Greeley, CO, with her family to Graham Iowa in 1924. The farm that they moved on and farmed was next to the Little Turkey River. Alma went to country school until starting high school. She went to Guttenberg High School from 1927 to 1931 where she graduated from the 12th grade. While attending high school she stayed with the Herman Ihm family where she babysat and did housework for room and board. After graduation, Alma helped with housework at home. She substituted at a country school not far from her home. She taught school until a classmate became 18. The classmate had contracted the job but had to be 18. Alma taught school for 5 months and had 6 grades.

In 1930, Alma met Otto Pensel at an outdoor dance floor in Graham. They were married 3 years later on June 7, 1933. They lived on a farm that Otto’s folks owned. Their 1st car was a 1933 Chevrolet Roadster. On February 3, 1937 their 1st child was born, Larry William Pensel. Larry died on September 19, 2006 at the age of 69. On January 28, 1939, a son Carl Herman Pensel was born. Alma and Otto moved off the farm and into the town of Guttenberg in the spring of 1960. She worked at the Guttenberg Municipal Hospital for 8 years as an aide. She retired from there when she turned 62. Together for many of those years she farmed alongside her husband.

Otto died on October 19, 1979. Alma lived in her home until 2008 when she moved into the Guttenberg Assisted Living Center. She later moved to the Guttenberg Care Center on October 7, 2010 until she passed away.

Alma is survived by her son, Carl (Fern) Pensel of Guttenberg; seven grandchildren, John, Daniel, Henry, Elain, James, Rose and Terry Pensel; eight great grandchildren, Dustin, Christen, Joshua, Jessie, Angel, Ashley, J.R. and Laura; one sister, Alice Tomkins; two brothers, Oran and Ralph Benskin; daughter in law Lylas Pensel and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Larry Pensel, four siblings, Edna Penrod, Marie French, John and Herman Benskin.

Visitation: Saturday 9:00 - 10:00 A.M. January 12, 2013 at St. John's Lutheran Church Guttenberg, Iowa
Funeral Service: Saturday 10:00 A.M. January 12, 2013 at St. John's Lutheran Church Guttenberg, Iowa
Interment: Bolsinger Cemetery Rural Colesburg, Iowa