Ben Dennis

Benjamin G. "Ben" Dennis 89 of Mechanicsville died Wednesday, July 27, 2005 in Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, due to complications from cancer. Funeral Mass 10:00 a.m., Saturday in St. Mary's Catholic Church, Mechanicsville, by the Reverend Eugene Benda. Visitation 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., Friday in Morgan Funeral Home, Mount Vernon. The Prayer Service begins at 7:00 p.m. Friday in the chapel. Ben will be buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Mechanicsville with military rites. Surviving Ben are his wife Mildred at home, and his children: Darrel and wife Sandi Dennis of Mount Vernon, Dean and wife Karen Dennis of Swisher, Marcia and husband Gordon Thomas of Olin, William and wife Sandy Boyd of Santa Barbara, California, Robert and wife Betty Boyd of Lake Sherwood, Missouri, and Barbara and husband Marlin Flynn, of Mechanicsville, a brother Albert "Dutch" and Eloise Dennis of Lisbon, seventeen grandchildren, and numerous great grandchildren. Preceding Ben in death were his parents, a sister Mary Dennis, and his wife Marcella "Marty." Ben was born June 3, 1916, at Lisbon, the oldest son of Edward "Miller" and Valentina "Tina" Zenishek Dennis. Ben married Marcella Marks in 1936 at Mechanicsville. He was drafted into the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a member of the Busch-Dennis American Legion Post #309, Mechanicsville. He married Mildred Hradek Boyd, his wife of thirty-two years, December 22, 1973, St. Mary's Catholic Church. Ben worked for forty years, retiring as a foreman in 1973, from the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. Ben was a member of the United Brotherhood of Railway Employees. Ben was a man of great faith, attending St. Mary's Catholic Church regularly. He was a strong family man and will be remembered for his gardening, his love of flowers, and raising strawberries. He loved being outdoors, hunting mushrooms and fishing. Ben loved to play cards and going to casinos.