Banse, Jack Albert

Jack Albert Banse, 83, of Walford, Iowa, successfully completed his life journey here on earth on Nov. 22, 2011, and is now ready to start a new chapter in heaven. Visitation will be Saturday, Nov. 26, at Clover Ridge United Methodist Church in Walford from 9 a.m. to noon, with the service at 12:30 p.m. and a fellowship lunch to follow. Private burial, with military honors, will take place at Homer Big Grove Cemetery near Garrison at a later time. Arrangements by Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids.

Jack was born Dec. 16, 1927, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Chris and Marie (Cessner) Banse. He graduated from Garrison High School in 1946 and enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served on the island of Guam. He was the Standard Oil agent in Van Horne and transferred to the fertilizer division working in Garrison, Keystone and Fairfax. He retired from Standard Oil after more than 25 years of service. After retirement he spent 14 years at Iowa Glass.

Jack spent most summers at his cabin in Alaska entertaining many family and friends. He enjoyed spending time with his special friends, John and Paula Blessman, and playing Sheepshead at Turner Hall in Keystone.

He married his wife Ellen in June 1988.

He is survived by his wife, Ellen; a brother, Bob; and a shared family of children: Sue (Mark) Jarvi, Steve (Rosie) Banse, Perry (Cindi) Banse, Sheri (John) Schulte, Diana (Robert) Christen and Elizabeth (Scott) Johannes; 21 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and many family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Freeman and Dave; and one infant sister.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for the two churches he attended - Trinity Lutheran Church in Walford and Kenai Lake Baptist Church in Cooper Landing, Alaska.

Please sign the online guest book for Jack at under obituaries.

Published Nov. 25, 2011 in The Gazette

corrections made online only