Dorothy Bencke

DOROTHY ROWAIN BENCKE (SILLS)

Marion

Dorothy Rowain Bencke (Sills): at age 96, passed away in her sleep in Newton, Mass., on May 28, 2017. Loved and adored wife of the late Eldon H. Bencke, Dorothy lived in Marion, Iowa, until the later years of her life. She then moved to Newton to live with her daughter, Dianne Bencke Gollrad, and her son, James Bencke.

Her grandchildren were so loved by her and include Sean Bencke of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., Glen Gollrad and his wife, Dana, of Topsfield, Mass., Gemma Gollrad of Mill Valley, Calif., and Sherri Brean and husband Henry of Las Vegas, Nev. Her adored great-grandchildren are Sara Nicole Halawani of Mill Valley, Victor Gollrad of Topsfield and Lila and George Brean of Las Vegas.

Dorothy was one of the 12 fantastic children of the fantastic Blanche (Andrews) Sills and Cliff Sills. She is survived by a sister, Joyce Albin, and husband, Delbert, of Palo; and a brother, Larry Sills of Marion. In addition she had many lovely nieces and nephews.

Dorothy loved life, her friends and family, and all the flowers in the world. Although very spirited and fun loving, she also was concerned about the well-being of others. Her favorite activity was a Sullivan's chili dog at Castle Island in Boston and watching the planes arrive at Logan on a bench near Fort Independence. And although she liked her home in Boston (and the Red Sox), she was a woman from Iowa and never forgot her roots and family there.

A service for Dorothy will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 3, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids. She will be buried next to her husband at Cedar Memorial, in her beloved Iowa.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.