116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Joseph 'Pep' Bena
Age: 78
City: Marion
Funeral Date
2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories, Cedar Rapids
Funeral Home
Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Joseph 'Pep' Bena
JOSEPH L. "PEP" BENA
Marion
Joseph L. "Pep" Bena, 78, of Marion, passed away Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, at Winslow House Care Center. A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Public visitation will be an hour before services. Interment at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Joe was born Aug. 30, 1941, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Louie Joseph and Iva Marvel (Brown) Bena. He married Margaret Poduska on April 28, 1973, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Solon.
Pep graduated from Washington High School in Cedar Rapids, Class of 1959. He went on to Iowa State University and Bemidji College in Minnesota. He worked for Baumhoueffner Nursery in Cedar Rapids for seven years and later became employed with Langers Steel and Wire, where he stayed for 23 years until his retirement. He was also a lifelong farmer. Pep enjoyed spending time with his family who will miss him dearly. He spent a lot of his time outdoors working with farm animals, planting trees, gardening, hunting, fishing and mushroom hunting. He also enjoyed working on and using his John Deere B and Allis D45 tractors.
Joe is survived by his wife, Margaret of Marion; and two daughters, Marjorie Bena of Marion and Jolene (Peter) Gansen of Aitkin, Minn.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the family.
Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.