Kathleen Bentzinger

KATHLEEN BENTZINGER

North Liberty

8/2/1944 3/14/2017

Kathleen Selma (Smith) Bentzinger was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Selma (Samuelson) Smith; sister, Christine (Smith) Weaver; plus many aunts and uncles.

Surviving are her loving husband, Rex Bentzinger; daughter, Jennifer Bentzinger; son, Bret (Elaine) Bentzinger; grandchildren, Chase and Noelle Bentzinger; niece, Kim (Bill) Merriman; nephew, Bobby (Dawn) Degroft; plus many nieces, nephews and friends.

Kathy met Rex at the University of Iowa, where it was love at first sight. They had been married for over 47 years. Her love for the Iowa Hawkeyes and Hayden Fry was very well known by all.

Kathy and Rex spent three years in Minot, N.D., where Rex was stationed in the Air Force. She was a secretary and learned the true meaning of cold weather.

She was an administrative assistant for the Dearborn (Mich.) Public School System for over 20 years, where she made many friends, still keeping in touch with many of them to this day.

She led a full, blessed life. She loved her family and dogs with all her heart. Kathy's favorite season was Christmas. She always looked forward to the after-Thanksgiving shopping trips, where she would probably start shopping for the next year.

Close family and friends will have a memory of her because of her wonderful knitting and sewing skills over the past 50-plus years, she hand-knitted well over 50 Christmas stockings.

Kathy also was able to go on her dream vacation to Hawaii (twice), as well as visit Europe, which included a stop in Norway. There, she was able to go into the house where her mother, Selma, was born. What an exciting day for her!

When she retired, she decided to learn the game of golf, so she and Rex could have fun on the links. She loved it! After retiring, they moved to Iowa, where they made many friends at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in North Liberty. She also was active in Taste our Cooking and the University Club.

They recently moved to Ohio to be closer to family and became involved with quilting for the Epiphany Lutheran Church in Pickerington, Ohio. She also was a member of the Breakfast with Jesus Study.

She lived life to the fullest and brought a smile to all who met her.

Kathy will be greatly missed by all who were lucky to have known her.

A celebration of Kathy's life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 268 Hill Rd. N., Pickerington, OH 43147, where family will receive friends from 1 p.m. to time of service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Epiphany Lutheran Church in Kathy's memory.