TAMA- Mary Jo Benda, age 75, of Tama, died on Saturday, November 4, 2006 in her home in Tama following a brief illness. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, November 8, 2006 at 10:30 AM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama with Pastor Jerry Avise-Rouse officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Tama. Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 7, 2006 from 5-7:30 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.
Mary Jo Benda was born on April 15, 1931 in Marshalltown, the daughter of Henry and Louise (Dolezal) Prochaska. She married Roger Benda on February 12, 1966 in Davenport. She worked in the food service department at the South Tama County Schools for fifteen years. She was a member of Living Faith United Methodist Church in Tama and the Tama American Legion Auxiliary. Mary Jo enjoyed cooking, fishing, and camping. She especially enjoyed the years her family spent fishing and camping at Clear Lake. Mary Jo was a Chicago Bears Fan and liked to play cards with her friends. She also deeply loved her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Survivors include her husband Roger; daughter Debbie (Brett) Goode of West Des Moines, Iowa; son Darin Benda of Toledo; daughter-in-law Tarah Youngbear of Tama; grandchildren Steffanie and Samantha Benda, and Tyler, Emily, and Lucas Goode; and her mother-in-law Blanche Benda of Toledo.
A memorial fund has been established for Living Faith United Methodist Church