Benda, Charles J. 'Rusty' Jr.

Charles J. “Rusty” Benda Jr., 88, died Monday, Dec. 6, 2010, at the Crestview Care and Rehab Center in West Branch.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, at the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Branch. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Cedar Memorial Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Online condolences may be made to the family at

Memorials may be made to World Wildlife Foundation or the American Lung Association.

Charles John Benda was born Sept. 27, 1922, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Charles J. and Marie Holets Benda. He was a graduate of Wilson High School in Cedar Rapids. On Feb. 27, 1957, he was united in marriage to Evelyn Vikel in Iowa City.

He had farmed in Linn County before moving to Iowa City in 1951. His father and uncle owned and operated Benda Implement Co. where he worked until the business was sold in 1971. He continued working as a mechanic for several other implement dealers and retired from Pyramid Services in Iowa City.

He enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing, collecting scale model Oliver tractors and World War II airplanes, animals and wildlife and was an avid Hawkeye fan.

Survivors include his wife, Evelyn of West Branch; two children, Joe (Sarah Jane) Benda of West Liberty, and Charlene (Terry) Hamer of West Branch; four grandchildren, Jenna, Charlie and Jill Hamer and Olivia Benda; and one great-grandson, Hunter Hamer.

He was preceded in death by his parents.