Roger D. Beenken

Roger Beenken, 80, of Clarion passed away Sunday, September 14, 2014 at Iowa Specialty Hospital in Clarion.

Funeral services for Roger Beenken will be held on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at 10:30 AM at First United Methodist Church, 201 3rd Avenue North East in Clarion with Pastor Don Morrison officiating.  Burial will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion.

Visitation for Roger Beenken will be held on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday.

Roger Dean Beenken was born May 5, 1934 to Donald Sr. and Clara (Holm) Beenken in Belmond.  He was raised in Belmond and attended country schools through the 8th grade.

Roger worked for the creamery in Goldfield, for Jason’s in Hampton, and finally for the city of Clarion for more 25 years, as supervisor of the city wastewater treatment plant.

Roger was united in marriage to Laura Jane Wood on March 28, 1967.  The couple made their home in Hampton for the first three years of marriage before making Clarion their home in October of 1970.  The couple raised two children and have four grandchildren.

Roger was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Clarion and was baptized in the Methodist faith.

Roger enjoyed watching news programs on TV, working on and restoring cars, going to auctions, vegetable gardening, tinkering with his lawn mower and most notably, working on clocks.  His nickname was tick-tock.

Most of all, Roger loved spending time with his grandkids, and was a family man, through and through.  He was known for his soft voice and gentle spirit.

Roger is survived by his wife Laura Beenken of Clarion; son Bud Quandt, his wife Troi and children Brandi and Samantha of Aplington, Iowa; daughter Kimberly Marker, her husband Timothy and children Tyler and Makena of Clarion; children from a previous marriage, Hollie Baumgart and husband Joe, Roger Beenken and wife Marie, Jody Beenken and wife Bonnie, Jimmy Beenken and wife Debbie, Shannon Diehls and husband Bob, Wendy Lodahl and husband Mike, along with 19 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren; sisters Barb Orht and husband Carl, Velmie Sabottka; Donna Dittmer and husband Randal, Denise Beenken, Cathy Hand and husband Greg, Betty Beenken; brothers Alan Beenken and wife Dixie, and Rick Beenken; and sisters-in-law, Marie Beenken and Nancy Beenken.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents Donald Sr. and Clara Beenken; siblings Russell Beenken, Donald Beenken, Jr., Marvella Overbeck and Delphine Watermiller; and brothers-in-law Herman Watermiller and David Sabottka.