Hometown: Monmouth, Iowa October 20, 1938 - August 17, 2014

Gene Benischek, 75, of Monmouth, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, August 17, 2014 at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. at Lahey Funeral Home in Oxford Junction, Iowa. Burial will take place immediately following at Mayflower Cemetery, Oxford Junction. Friends and Family may call on Friday, August 22, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Lahey Funeral Home, Oxford Junction. Gene was born on October 20, 1938 in Monmouth, Iowa to parents, Henry and Thelma (Dean) Benischek. He graduated from Oxford Junction Consolidated School. He served in the United States Air Force from 1957 – 1961. He worked for over 30 years for Cargill in various positions, lastly as a boiler operator before retirement. Gene was the founder and secretary of the East Central Iowa Beagle Club. He enjoyed competing in Beagle Field Trails throughout the United States, raising world class beagles, and won the National 2006 Award for Beagle Breeder of the Year. He was also awarded the 2006 Mid-West Beagle Gundog Association All Age Breeder of the Year, 2004 Mid-West Beagle Gundog Association Hall of Fame Award, and the 2003 Mid-West Gundog Association High Hound Award All Age Breeder of the Year. He loved to spend time coon and deer hunting as well as fishing. Gene also looked forward to hosting the annual Benischek Family Christmas Eve party. Gene is survived by his sisters; Marlene (Fred) Feuss of Lost Nation, Iowa, and Jane (Kirk) Rentschler of Shueyville, Iowa, nieces; Mary (Bob) Ross, Margaret (John) Hogan, Cheryl VanZuiden and nephews; Joe (Jackie) Bisinger, Jim (Deb) Bisinger, Clyde Feuss, Carl (Lori) Feuss, Monte (Rosanne) Brown, Ryan (Nicole) Rentschler, Cody Rentschler, a niece-in-law Heather Brown and numerous great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters; Leona Benischek, Phyllis Bisinger, and Claudette Brown, brother-in-laws; Arnold Bisinger and James L. Brown and his nephew, Brett Brown. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the Oxford Junction Senior Center, Midland Ambulance or as the family wishes.