Thomas Rudolph Bena

Thomas Rudolph Bena, 93, formerly of Tipton, entered eternity on Wednesday, January 1, 2020 while under the care of the Guttenberg Care Center. Private funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 11:00 am at Fry Funeral Home, Tipton with Rev. Ronald Lashmit, officiating. Burial with full military rites were held at St. Bridget’s Cemetery in the Nolan Settlement. The family requests memorials are directed to St. Croix Hospice, P.O. Box 111 Strawberry Point, Iowa 52076. Online condolences may always be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com.

Tom was born on September 12, 1926 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and was the son of Anthony Thomas Bena and Elizabeth Makousky Bena. He attended Rosedale Country School and McKinley High School. Tom served his country by enlisting in the United States Army, serving from 1945 to 1947. He married Virginia Lee Robinson on January 23, 1951 in St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in Nolan Settlement. Tom and his wife Virginia and family, farmed for many years, in addition to working as a school bus driver and custodian at Tipton Community School.

Tom is survived by his wife of 68 years, Virginia Bena of Guttenberg, Iowa; daughters, Susan (Reggie) Swartzendruber of West Amana, Iowa, Sally (Tom) Elliot of Strawberry Point, Iowa, Nancy Meier of Tipton, Iowa, LuAnn (Tony) Loftis of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; son, Steve (Lauri) Bena of Volga, Iowa; 12 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren; and his sister, Emily Suchomel of Solon, Iowa. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony and Elizabeth Bena and his sister, Mary Ann Syroid.

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