Gary W. Beneke, 76, of Waterloo died peacefully Friday, March 4, 2022. Gary was born on June 6, 1945, in Caledonia, MN, the son of Walter and Margaret Thiele Beneke. He attended school in Caledonia where he graduated in 1963 and furthered his education at the University of Minnesota. Gary received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1967.
Gary married Karen Collins on June 18, 1966, in Caledonia and they were blessed with two sons. He worked for FS (now Growmark) for over forty years rising to the position of General Manager and retiring on December 30, 2010. Gary was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls and had been a member of the Jaycees and Elks Club in Baraboo and Kenosha, WI and Corydon, IA. In his free time, Gary enjoyed golf, racquetball, bowling, fishing and traveling. Over the years he sang in church choirs and served on many church councils and committees. For Gary, family, and especially his grandchildren, were his world.
Left to celebrate his life are his wife; sons, Jeff (Renae) Beneke and their children Ethan and Emily, of Cedar Falls and Brian (Liz) Beneke and their children Laden and Lilah and his grand-dog George, of Roseville, MN; a brother, Garnet (Carla) Beneke of Onalaska, WI and a sister, Ann Lubinski of Winona, MN; and many other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be directed to St John Lutheran Church, Cedar Falls, or Cedar Valley Hospice.