Benda, Mary Joan (Klimesh) 1943 - 2018

BENDA, KLIMESH, PROHASKI, PAPE, HALWEG, FREY, ANDERSON, HALLBERG, KALWAROWSKY, DARRAH, GOETTELMAN, HEROLD

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:38

Mary Benda, age 74 of Fort Atkinson, IA, died on October 24, 2018 at Gundersen Health System, LaCrosse, WI.

There will be no service or visitation for Mary.

Mary Joan (Klimesh) Benda the daughter of Otto and Irene (Prohaski) Klimesh was born December 15, 1943 in Mason City, Iowa. She attended school in Spillville, IA and graduated from South Winneshiek in Calmar, IA. During the summer in High School she worked at the MacNider Mansion in Mason City, IA. She also worked at the Bily Clocks in Spillville, IA. She was united in marriage to Roger Benda on September 20, 1962 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Lourdes, IA. They had just celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary this year. They were blessed with 5 wonderful daughters: Joanie, Janice, Julie, Joyce, and Jennifer. She worked side by side with Roger working on their dairy farm outside of Spillville. She worked hard tending to her daughters growing up and raising all of their supply foods in their 3 large gardens they raised every year. Canning, freezing, baking, and cooking was a passion of hers. She had a love of baking Kolaches, Rohliky, and homemade bread. Mary loved her family dearly. She enjoyed their dogs, raising angora rabbits, and watching her humming birds. She had a green thumb for flowers. And she enjoyed watching her favorite baseball team, the Chicago Cubs. Mary was a member of the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and a member of the Civic Improvement Association.

Mary is survived by her husband Roger, Fort Atkinson, daughters: Joan Benda, Fort Atkinson, Janice (Dan) Pape, Luana, Julie (Randy) Halweg, Fort Atkinson, Joyce Benda, Cresco, and Jennifer (Billy) Frey, Fort Atkinson. Mary had grandchildren, step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren and step great-grandchildren that she loved dearly. Grandchildren: Sheila Anderson, Luana, Zachary and Desiree Benda, Cresco. Step-grandchildren Drew (Taylor) Pape, Clear Lake, Ren Pape (girlfriend Alison Hallberg), Monona, Jesse (Alyssa) Halweg, Decorah, and Jenna Halweg (boyfriend Scott Cole), Ryan, IA. Great-grandchildren Grayson and Vaida Benda, Cresco. Step great-grandchildren Ansley, Brexton, and Coleston Pape, Clear Lake, and Denver Pape, Monona, Brekin and Brinley Halweg, Decorah. Mary is also survived by brothers and sisters: Tom (Beth) Klimesh, Spillville, Peter (Theresa) Klimesh, Calmar, Emily Kalwarowsky, Canada, Daniel (Diane) Klimesh, Ridgeway, and Cathy (John) Darrah, Dubuque. One sister-in-law Leanne (Dale) Goettelman, Decorah. And many nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces, and cousins.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents Otto and Irene (Prohaski) Klimesh, father and mother in-law, Elmer and Luella (Herold) Benda, grandson, Shawn Anderson. A niece and many uncles, aunts, and cousins.

Source: Schluter - Balik Funeral Home database

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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