Benter, Harold L.

Harold L. Benter, 84, of Oelwein, died Friday, March 30, 2012, at his home. Services: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 4, at Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein, by the Rev. Leo Combs-Lay. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Geilenfeld Funeral Home in Oelwein. Burial: Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, rural Hazleton, with military honors by American Legion Ross Reid Post 9, Oelwein.

Born Sept. 2, 1927, in Waucoma, Iowa, the son of George and Lillian (Lewig) Benter, he attended Hawkeye Public School and from 1946-1947, served in the U.S. Army, where he received his automotive technician training. Harold married Berna Deane Murray on June 24, 1947, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawkeye. Harold had worked at Wilson's packing plant in Cedar Rapids. He then was an automotive technician for Iowa Motor Co. in Oelwein for 45 years, retiring in 1989. He then worked at Kleppe's Auto in Oelwein for five years and also worked at Dekalb in Oelwein for 10 years.

Survivors include his wife, Berna Deane Benter of Oelwein; his children, Russell (Diane) Benter, Carolyn (Steve) Coselman and Dean (Linda) Benter, all of Oelwein, and Debra (Jim) Baskerville of Marshalltown; 12 grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; eight stepgreat-grandchildren; his brother, Leonard (Betty) Benter of Oelwein; his sister-in-law, Connie Murray of Marion; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and infant son, Richard.

A memorial fund has been established.

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Published April 2, 2012 in The Gazette