Edwin ‘Ed’ LeMont Benedict

Edwin ‘Ed’ LeMont Benedict, age 94 of Charles City, passed away peacefully on Oct. 20, 2020 with family at his side.

Ed was born in Decorah, Iowa, on May 29, 1926, the son of LeMont T. Benedict and Marjorie E. (Ostenson) Benedict. He grew up in Charles City until he enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve V-6 Electronics Training Program, and was called to active duty on July 5, 1944 after graduating from Charles City High School on his 18th birthday. Ed spent 2 years in the Navy, including 5 1/2 months serving as a Yeoman on the Island of Guam. It was his good fortune to meet Alberta Jean Roepke, a cadet nurse, on the train after a weekend at home. Thus began a wartime romance, which would last over 66 years. Ed and Jean were united in marriage June 23, 1948, and raised a beautiful family of four children. Ed attended St. Olaf College under the GI Bill and graduated in 1950. Ed and Jean then returned to Charles City where Ed spent the next 50 years running ‘The Trading Store’ on Main Street. Family was very important to Ed, and they spent many happy hours together camping, visiting friends and relatives, doing “projects” around the house, and especially enjoyed a six-week family trip to California and places West in 1964.

Surviving family members include his sister, Marjorie Dunlap of Austin, MN; daughter Becky (Gary Miessler) Benedict of Northfield, MN; sons Randy (Sue) Benedict of Fridley, MN; and Greg (Yvonne) Benedict of Mason City, IA; son-in-law Jim (Suzi) Zirbel of Charles City; six grandchildren, Shelby (Joel) Pals; Katie Zirbel; Nick (Lacey) Zirbel; twins Naomi and Rachel Miessler; Emy Zhou; a granddaughter-in-law Anna (Brad) Williams; five great-grandchildren; one great great grandson; two step grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Roepke of Midland, TX.; and a large extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 63 plus years, a daughter, Cindy Zirbel, a grandson, Ben Zirbel, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, three brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law.

A private service will be held. In lieu of flowers, family respectfully requests memorials be designated for the Cynthia Zirbel Memorial Scholarship Fund at St. John Christian Preschool, 200 S. Main Street, Charles City, IA, 50616; the Ben Zirbel Memorial Scholarship at St. Johns State College Foundation, 5001 Saint Johns Ave, Palatka, FL 32177; or to the American Cancer Society.

Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, 1205 South Main Street, Charles City, Iowa 50616 is in charge of local arrangements. Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall for the family at www.hauserfh.com.