Howard L. Benshoof

BENSHOOF, PEAVEY

Posted By: Ruth Maring (email)
Date: 12/2/2005 at 09:54:20

The Quad City Times

Howard Benshoof 02/07/1999 DeWITT, Iowa -- Howard L. Benshoof, principal architect of vocational rehabilitation in Iowa as it is known today, died Saturday, Feb. 6, at West Wing Care Center, DeWitt. He was 87. Memorial services will be 7:15 p.m. Monday at the Benshoof home, 1112 11th Ave., DeWitt. Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Monday. Burial will be 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Masonic Cemetery, Dallas Center. Chapman Funeral Home, Wheatland, is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Benshoof and his family farmed 40 years in North Warren County, and he retired in 1980 from public service. He was employed as director of Vocational Rehabilitation for the state of Iowa after holding positions as assistant director and placement specialist. He also was employed as Safety Education Representative for Disability Prevention of the Iowa Department of Public Instruction and a school superintendent. In 1957, he was appointed Regional Representative for the Department of Health, Education and Welfare of the U.S. Government and served seven states. In 1966, he returned to Iowa as a consultant with the State Department of Public Instruction. He promoted programs for the disabled in secondary schools and community colleges. He initiated the planning and supervised the construction of the new Rehabilitation Center Building on Capital Square in Des Moines as well as the Jessie M. Parker Building. Mr. Benshoof was born Jan. 22, 1912, in Perry. Survivors include his wife, Florence; a daughter, Barbara Peavey, DeWitt; sons, Max, Bloomington, Ind., Dan, Tampa, Fla., and Ted, Winterset; 14 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.