David Eugene BENSON

BENSON, SPANYAR, VEATCH, ALMQUIST, CHAO, BRAUND, JOHNSON, MILLER, MERRIAM, SWENSON, NORDELL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 11/4/2013 at 09:23:06

August 13, 1941 --- November 1, 2013

CRESTON, Iowa -- David Eugene Benson was born to Lillian Louise and Benny Benson on August 13, 1941, in Belmond, Iowa. David entered eternal rest on Friday, November 1, 2013, at the Greater Regional Hospice House in Creston, Iowa, at the age of 72 years.

After graduating from Eagle Grove High School in 1959, he enlisted in the United States Army and served one three-year active duty tour in Hawaii followed by three more years in Germany. David also served fourteen years in the Army and Navy Reserves and retired honorably after twenty years of service to his country.

He was united in marriage to Traudl Spanyar in 1964 in Bobingen, Germany, where their first son, David Eugene Jr., was born. In 1965, he returned to Eagle Grove, Iowa, and became an Iowa State Highway Patrol Officer. He was stationed in Osceola and lived in Creston where their second son, Anthony Kirk, was born in 1968.

David married twice more, in Creston to Donna Veatch and later to Dorothy Almquist. He retired from the Iowa State Highway Patrol after thirty years of service. He later worked as a shuttle bus driver for the Area Agency on Aging. During this time he made many friends among the users of the service. His helpful and friendly demeanor will be remembered and missed by many.

In his later years, he enjoyed the companionship of his special girlfriend, Liang-Lin Chao. David loved to socialize, help people in any way he could and was a fountain of funny jokes that he loved to share. He also was an accomplished dancer, loved music and was an ardent and passionate Green Bay Packers fan. David was a long-term member of the Elks Club and a generous donor to many charities, especially the Iowa Public Television and Radio Networks. He was a faithful member of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Creston.

David spent over two years in either hospital or nursing care in Illinois to be close to family. He returned to Creston in September 2013. In 2006, his son David E. Jr. left this earth to his family’s immeasurable sorrow. David also was preceded in death by his parents, Benny Benson, Lillian Braund and stepdad, Leslie Braund; brothers-in-law, Roger Johnson, Paul Miller and Wilbur “Tiny” Merriam; and nephews, Greg and Eric Johnson. David will be so very much missed and his memory will be cherished by his son, Anthony Kirk Benson of Creston, Iowa; grandchildren, Anthony Kim Benson of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Jackie Benson of Edwardsville, Illinois, and Daniel Benson of Edwardsville, Illinois; daughter-in-law, Julie Benson of Edwardsville, Illinois; sisters, Connie Johnson of Belmond, Iowa, Mary Jo (Sid) Swenson of Belmond, Iowa, Marlene Merriam of Belmond, Iowa, Alyce (Glenn) Nordell of Sugar Grove, Illinois; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and the mother of his sons.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 6, 2013, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Creston, Iowa, with Celebrant Father Ken Halbur Jr. There will be an open visitation from 1 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5, 2013, with the family receiving friends from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and a Christian Wake Service beginning at 7 p.m. at Pearson Family Funeral Service, 809 W. Montgomery St., Creston, Iowa. Interment with Military Honors provided by Theodore J. Martens VFW Post 1797, Creston, Iowa, and the Iowa State Patrol Honor Guard will be at the Calvary Cemetery in Creston, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to the family, to be determined.
Pearson Family Funeral Service of Creston, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements for David Benson Sr.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
November 4, 2013