Yvonne "Gundy" Benz

Sibley, IA Yvonne " Gundy" Benz, age 85 of Sibley, IA died Sunday, July 3rd, 2011 in the Hospice Suite of the Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley, IA. Memorial service will be 11:00 A.M. Friday, July 8, 2011 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sibley, with Reverend Jim Berka officiating. Burial will take place at Baker Township Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be Thursday, July 7th from 4-8 P.M. with the family present from 6-8 P.M. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley. Yvonne "Gundy" Benz was born May 1, 1926 in Cylinder, IA to Oley and Martha (Helmke) Gunderson. She attended school in Cylinder and graduated from High School there. When Gundy found out she was too tall to become an airline attendant, she decided to become a teacher and she graduated with a teaching degree from Waldorf College in Forest City. Gundy was teaching high school English and History at Melvin High School when she met her future husband at church. On December 20, 1946 she was united in marriage to Richard A. Benz. The couple made their home on the family farm east of Melvin, IA and she turned her full attention to raising her family and farming with her husband. They lived there until moving to their current home in Sibley in December of 1991. After moving to Sibley, Gundy volunteered at Heartwood Heights Independent/Assisted Living for 10 years leading exercise classes. She also served as a resident advocate at Country View Manor for many years. The friends she made through her volunteering were special to her. Gundy was known for her wonderful cinnamon rolls and especially her fudge which she would share with friends and the residents at Heartwood Heights and Country View. Gundy is survived by her husband of 64 years, Dick Benz; son, Steve (Sandy) Benz of Seattle, WA; daughter, Bonita (Sam) Adams, Spillville, IA; son, Kenny (Sheila) Benz of Melvin, IA; and daughter, Becky (Mike) Anthony of Carlisle, IA; 13 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren; sister, Eileen Gunderson of Fort Dodge, IA; and sister-in-law, Alice Gunderson of Emmetsburg, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Don Gunderson; nephew, Neil Gunderson; and infant grandson, Marc Anthony. In lieu of flowers, family wishes memorials be directed to the Osceola Community Hospital or Hospice program, the Sibley Library or the area Nursing Homes.