John Bena

JOHN W. BENA

Oelwein

John W. Bena, 85, of Oelwein, formerly of Cedar Rapids, passed away at his home on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018. Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids. The family requests that everyone come 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 U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War and came home to work at Witwer Grocery then Iowa Manufacturing. He later took a job at Cryovac, and 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 who knew John know 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 two sons, Ben (Lori) Bena and Bob Bena; daughter, Lisa (Robert) Phillips; grandchildren, Tim (Kate) Bena, Amber Bena, Carmon Bena, Amy (Dale) Weber, Troy Ciha and Dana (Mike) Visek; plus 12 great-grandchildren; sisters, Dorothy Nemecek, Ole (Clete) McNamara, Mary Anne Syroid and Emilie (Bernard) Suchomel; brother, Tommy Bena; and special friends, Mary Anne Knight and Red and Joyce Schroeder.

Please share a memory of John at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.