DeBUHR, Bernard A. 1914-1998

DEBUHR, SIEBRANDTS, KEIFER

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 12/22/2008 at 13:50:17

ROCKFORD, IOWA — Bernard A. "Ben" deBuhr, 83, of 104 Third St. N.W., Rockford, Floyd county, Iowa, died Friday, January 23, 1998, at his home, surrounded by his family.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Zion Lutheran Church in Rockford, with the Rev. John Albrecht officiating. Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery with military rites provided by the Walker Graper American Legion Post No. 338.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Schumburg Funeral Home in Rockford. Memorials may be directed to the Ben deBuhr Memorial Fund.

Ben was born Sept. 14, 1914, to Harm E. and Hilda (Siebrandts) deBuhr in the rural Rockford area. He was baptized and confirmed in Zion Lutheran Church at Rockford. He graduated from Rockford High School with the class of 1933, followed by one year at Hamilton Business College in Mason City.

From 1935 until 1941, Ben helped his parents on the farm west of Rockford. In 1941, he entered the U.S. Army and served with Co. "B" of the 113 Cavalry Squadron, the "Red Horsemen" serving in England, France, Belgium, Holland and finally in Germany. One of the major campaigns he participated in was Ste. Lo, where he was wounded. Ben was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, three Bronze Campaign stars, and the Liberty Medal from the French government. Ben was honorably discharged Jan. 31, 1945.

On Oct. 5, 1949, Ben was united in marriage to Beulah Keifer, of Rockford, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. At the time of Ben’s death, they had been married 48 years. During most of that time, he had been self-employed. Ben became known in the Rockford area as "Backhoe Ben," probably one of the most skilled operators of that particular piece of equipment in the area.

Ben’s interest in Rockford and surrounding area was proven by his participation in the governmental bodies. He served on the Rockford City Council from 1956 through 1970 and as mayor from 1972 through 1976 during which time the city sewer project was completed. He served on the Floyd County Zoning Commission from 1967 to 1982, on the Floyd County Memorial Hospital Board from 1982 to 1986, and on the mental health board at Independence. Ben was on the North Iowa Area Council of Governments Board.

He helped secure grants for additional county law officers, helped establish the Winnebago Boy Scout Camp at Marble Rock, secured substantial grant monies for the Rockford Community Center and the old Wellness Center. At present, he was president of the Rockford Historical Society. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Rockford Lions, a charter member of the Rockford Development Corp. and Elks Club of Charles City.

Ben received an invitation to the 1993 inauguration of President William Jefferson Clinton, president of the United States.

Ben was dedicated to his family (especially to his grandchildren), his community and his country.

Ben is survived by his wife, Beulah, Rockford; one son, David and his wife, Sue, Cedar Falls; one daughter, Dianne and her husband, Alan Christeson, Rockford; one brother, Alfred, of Mason City; two sisters, Else Uker, of Rudd, and Marie Bequette, of Mason City; four grandchildren, Neal and Nicholas deBuhr, of Cedar Falls, and Garrett and Brent Christeson, of Rockford.

Ben was preceded in death by his parents; and five brothers, Herman, Theodore, Gerhard, John and William; and one sister, Hilda.

[Mason City Globe Gazette online -- Jan. 27, 1998]