Howard L. Benshoof

BENSHOOF, PEAVEY, PERRY

Posted By: Treva Patterson (email)
Date: 4/17/2006 at 20:49:56

Winterset Madisonian
February 10, 1999

Howard L. Benshoof, DeWitt

Howard L. Benshoof, 87, of Dewitt died Feb. 6, 1999, at West Wing Care Center in DeWitt.

A memorial service was held Monday, Feb. 8, at the Benshoof home in DeWitt. Burial was at the Masonic Cemetery in Dallas Center.

Howard Benshoof was born to M.D. and Alta (Perry) Benshoof of Perry. He graduated from Perry High School in 1930 and earned his B. A. from the then State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, his M.A. from the University of Iowa in 1935 and doctoral study at Harvard University and the University of California at Berkeley. He was a school superintendent until 1939, when he became safety education representative for Disability Prevention-Iowa Department of Public Instruction. He was director of Vocational Rehabilitation for the state of Iowa, was on the state and national committee for the disabled, president of the National Rehabilitation Association (receiving the Outstanding Leadership Award) and chairman of the National Rehabilitation Legislative Committee. In 1957, he was appointed regional representative for the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, serving seven states. For his outstanding service in this capacity, he received the Civil Servant of the Year Award. In 1966, he returned to Iowa as consultant with the State Department of Public Instruction. He promoted programs for the disabled in secondary schools and community colleges. He also initiated the planning and supervised the construction of the new Rehabilitation Center at Capital Square in Des Moines, as well as the Jessie M. Parker Building. He retired in 1980 from public service.

Howard was a life member of the National Rehabilitation Association, Phi Delta Kappa, Goodwill Industries, Easter Seal, Masonic Lodge, Rotary International and Methodist Church. His numerous awards include the honorary doctorate degree in the Science of Education in 1972 from Drake University. He laid the foundation for a new master's degree program at Drake for the placement of the handicapped.

Mr. Benshoof and his family farmed for 40 years in north Warren County.

He is survived by his wife Florence; one daughter, Barbara Peavey of DeWitt; three sons, Max of Bloomington, Ind., Dan of Tampa, Fla., and Ted of Winterset; 14 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements were handled by Chapman Funeral Home in Wheatland.