Richard Allen Benz

Sibley, IA Richard Benz age 89 of Sibley, IA died Sunday, November 2, 2014 at the Sibley Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Sibley, IA. Memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 8, 2014 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sibley, with Rev. Barb Kopperud officiating. Graveside service with military honors will be 9:30 a.m. Saturday, November 8th in Baker Township Cemetery at Melvin, IA. Visitation will be Friday, November 7th from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley. Richard Allen Benz was born December 12, 1924 to Fred and Hannah (Mielke) Benz on a farm east of Melvin where he would later raise his own family. He graduated from Melvin Community High School and in 1943 enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He took advanced pilot training and was appointed a flight officer and trained pilots until returning to Iowa to farm in 1946. Shortly thereafter he met Yvonne (Gundy) Gunderson, a high school teacher in Melvin, and they married on December 20, 1946. Richard was an active member of many ag-related organizations and numerous boards during his life time including serving as chairman of the Melvin Community School Board for 16 years, president of the Osceola County Coop Oil Board, the Osceola County Hospital Board, and 12 years on the AEA 4 Board. Richard's first love was for his family followed by farming, raising cattle, and golf. After moving with Gundy to Sibley in 1991 he continued to farm until retiring in 2012. Richard's farm and his twin brother Robert's farm are each Century Farms. Richard is survived by son, Steven (Sandy) Benz of Seattle, WA; daughter, Bonita (Sam) Adams, Spillville, IA; son, Kenneth (Sheila) Benz of Melvin, IA; and daughter, Becky (Mike) Anthony of West Des Moines, IA; 13 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and his two brothers, twin brother Robert (Phyllis) Benz, Melvin, IA; and Earl (Fran) Benz, Pahrump, NV. He was preceded in death by his wife Yvonne (Gundy) in July 2011; his parents, step-sisters Vivian Brunk and Pearl Brunk; step-brothers Butch Benz and Harold Jass; and an infant grandson, Marc Anthony. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to: Melvin American Legion Post 470, Sibley FFA Chapter or Osceola Community Hospital.