John W. Bena
March 4, 1932 — January 13, 2018
John W. Bena, 85, of Oelwein, Iowa, formerly of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away at his home on Saturday, January 13, 2018. Visitation: 5 – 7 p.m. Monday, January 15, 2018, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids. The family requests that everyone comes in casual dress. A private family burial will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.
John was born March 4, 1932, to A.T. and Olga (Suchomel) Bena in Cedar Rapids. He was the youngest of seven children. John served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War and came home to work at Witwer Grocery, then Iowa Manufacturing. He later took a job at Cryovac where he met his bride of 50 years, Faye Olson. John captured Faye’s interest when he laughed after someone shot Faye in the fanny with a rubber band. John and Faye had coffee after work, their love bloomed, and they were married Sept 1, 1956, in Fayette, Iowa.
John and Faye had three children, Benny, Lisa and Bobby. They enjoyed boating, fishing and socializing with their many friends at their trailer, north of Prairie Du Chien, for over 30 years. John retired in 1993, and they moved to their home in Oelwein. Faye passed away in 2006. Those that knew John know that he enjoyed singing and laughter. He was known by many and loved by all.
John was preceded in death by his wife, parents, brother, Chuck (Alma) John and brother-in-law, Marvin Nemecek.
John is survived by his two sons, Ben (Lori) Bena, Bob Bena; daughter, Lisa (Robert) Phillips; grandchildren; Tim (Kate) Bena, Amber Bena, Carmon Bena, Amy (Dale) Weber, Troy Ciha, Dana (Mike) Visek; plus twelve great- grandchildren; sisters, Dorothy Nemecek, Ole (Clete) McNamara, Mary Anne Syroid, Emilie (Bernard) Suchomel; brother, Tommy Bena; and special friends, Mary Anne Knight and Red and Joyce Schroeder.
John was born March 4, 1932, to A.T. and Olga (Suchomel) Bena in Cedar Rapids. He was the youngest of seven children. John served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War and came home to work at Witwer Grocery, then Iowa Manufacturing. He later took a job at Cryovac where he met his bride of 50 years, Faye Olson. John captured Faye’s interest when he laughed after someone shot Faye in the fanny with a rubber band. John and Faye had coffee after work, their love bloomed, and they were married Sept 1, 1956, in Fayette, Iowa.
John and Faye had three children, Benny, Lisa and Bobby. They enjoyed boating, fishing and socializing with their many friends at their trailer, north of Prairie Du Chien, for over 30 years. John retired in 1993, and they moved to their home in Oelwein. Faye passed away in 2006. Those that knew John know that he enjoyed singing and laughter. He was known by many and loved by all.
John was preceded in death by his wife, parents, brother, Chuck (Alma) John and brother-in-law, Marvin Nemecek.
John is survived by his two sons, Ben (Lori) Bena, Bob Bena; daughter, Lisa (Robert) Phillips; grandchildren; Tim (Kate) Bena, Amber Bena, Carmon Bena, Amy (Dale) Weber, Troy Ciha, Dana (Mike) Visek; plus twelve great- grandchildren; sisters, Dorothy Nemecek, Ole (Clete) McNamara, Mary Anne Syroid, Emilie (Bernard) Suchomel; brother, Tommy Bena; and special friends, Mary Anne Knight and Red and Joyce Schroeder.
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