Mary Benda

Monday, October 29, 2018 7:21 pm

Mary Benda, 74, of Fort Atkinson, died Oct. 24, 2018, at Gundersen Health System, La Crosse, Wis. There will not be a visitation or church service.
Mary Joan (Klimesh) Benda the daughter of Otto and Irene (Prohaski) Klimesh was born Dec. 15, 1943, in Mason City. She attended school in Spillville, and graduated from South Winneshiek in Calmar. During the summer in High School she worked at the MacNider Mansion in Mason City. She also worked at the Bily Clocks in Spillville.

She was united in marriage to Roger Benda Sept. 20, 1962, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Lourdes. They had just celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary this year. They were blessed with five wonderful daughters: Joanie, Janice, Julie, Joyce and Jennifer. She worked side by side with Roger working on their dairy farm outside of Spillville. She worked hard tending to her daughters growing up and raising all of their supply foods in their three large gardens they raised every year. Canning, freezing, baking and cooking were passions of hers. She had a love of baking Kolaches, Rohliky and homemade bread. Mary loved her family dearly. She enjoyed their dogs, raising angora rabbits and watching her hummingbirds. She had a green thumb for flowers. And she enjoyed watching her favorite baseball team, the Chicago Cubs. Mary was a member of the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and a member of the Civic Improvement Association.

Mary is survived by her husband, Roger, Fort Atkinson; daughters: Joan Benda, Fort Atkinson, Janice (Dan) Pape, Luana, Julie (Randy) Halweg, Fort Atkinson, Joyce Benda, Cresco and Jennifer (Billy) Frey, Fort Atkinson. Mary had grandchildren, step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren and step great-grandchildren that she loved dearly. Grandchildren: Sheila Anderson, Luana, Zachary and Desiree Benda, Cresco. Step-grandchildren: Drew (Taylor) Pape, Clear Lake, Ren Pape (girlfriend Alison Hallberg), Monona, Jesse (Alyssa) Halweg, Decorah, and Jenna Halweg (boyfriend Scott Cole), Ryan. Great-grandchildren, Grayson and Vaida Benda, Cresco. Step great-grandchildren: Ansley, Brexton, and Coleston Pape, Clear Lake, and Denver Pape, Monona, Brekin and Brinley Halweg, Decorah. Mary also is survived by brothers and sisters: Tom (Beth) Klimesh, Spillville, Peter (Theresa) Klimesh, Calmar, Emily Kalwarowsky, Canada, Daniel (Diane) Klimesh, Ridgeway and Cathy (John) Darrah, Dubuque; one sister-in-law, Leanne (Dale) Goettelman, Decorah; and many nephews, nieces, great-nephews, great-nieces and cousins.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Irene (Prohaski) Klimesh; father and mother in-law, Elmer and Luella (Herold) Benda; grandson, Shawn Anderson; a niece and many uncles, aunts, and cousins.