Virginia 'Ginny' Lee(Robinson) Bena, 28 Jun 1932-16 Feb 2021

BENA, ROBINSON, LUKEMYERS, SWARTZENDRUBER, ELLIOT, MEIER, LOFTIS, FRANKHAUSER

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 3/2/2021 at 12:59:46

Virginia "Ginny" Lee Bena formerly of Tipton, Iowa, entered into eternity on Feb. 16, 2021, while under the care of the Guttenberg Care Center. Private funeral services were held on Saturday, Feb. 20, at 1 p.m. at Fry Funeral Home, Tipton, Iowa, with the Rev. Ronald Lashmit, officiating. Burial: St Bridget's Cemetery in the Nolan Settlement.

Family requests memorials to be directed to St. Croix Hospice, 101 Elkader St., Strawberry Point, IA 52076. Online condolences may always be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com.

Virginia was born on Tuesday, June 28, 1932, the daughter of Ralph and Emma (Lukemyers) Robinson, in Clarence, Iowa. Virginia was the twelfth of 12 children. She attended Tipton Community School for 2 years and then attended West Branch School for 10 years. She graduated high school in 1950. Prior to graduation and after, she worked for Jensen's Grocery in West Branch, Iowa and then onto Iowa Illinois Gas and Electric Company in Iowa City, Iowa.

Virginia married Thomas R. Bena on Jan. 23, 1951, at St. Bridgets Catholic Church in Nolan Settlement. Virginia was a hard-working farm wife, loving mother, grandmother, great and great-great-grandmother who devoted her lifetime to her family.

She enjoyed babysitting for her grandchildren, playing cards and games with them. She loved to dance with her husband Tom and listen to Polka music. Virginia enjoyed watching the Hawkeyes on TV, flowers and making quilts and pillows for the family, but her greatest joy was having her family together for the holidays.

Virginia is survived by her children, Susan (Reggie) Swartzendruber of West Amana, Iowa, Sally (Tom) Elliot of Strawberry Point, Iowa, Nancy Meier of Tipton, Iowa, Steve (Lauri) Bena of Volga, Iowa, and LuAnn (Tony) Loftis, of North Liberty, Iowa; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and her sister, Helen Fankhauser of Iowa City, Iowa.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Tom, of 68 years; her parents, Ralph and Emma Robinson; four brothers; and six sisters.

Published in The Gazette on February 21, 2021.