Obituary of Bennett Joseph Habel

HOLY CROSS, IOWA Bennett J. Habel, 88, of Holy Cross, Iowa, died Monday, January 20, 2014 at his home surrounded by his family of natural causes. Friends may call from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. Thursday, January 23, 2014 at Kramer Funeral Home in Holy Cross, Iowa. Friends may continue to call from 9 - 10 a.m. Friday, January 24, 2014 at the Immaculate Conception Church prior to the funeral mass. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 24, 2014, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, North Buena Vista, Iowa with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Marvin Bries will officiate. Bennett was born May 7, 1925, in Balltown, Iowa the son of John and Veronica (Hansen) Habel. He married Kathleen "Kay" Hefel on Oct. 15, 1947, in North Buena Vista, Iowa. Together they farmed on the family farm near North Buena Vista for most of their lives. Benny also hauled for the Balltown creamery for many years. He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and the National Farmers Oranization. Benny loved to play the accordion with his brother, Cy and nephews, a group called, "Benny and the Hemorrhoids", and any others who would join them. . He also loved woodworking and fixing broken things from his shovel to a broken toy. He enjoyed western TV, movies and books, making and drinking wine and drinking lots of warm beer in his younger days. He loved to work in the fields, garden and spend time in his workshop, and he received several conservation awards. His greatest achievement was his love for his wife of 66 years, kids, grandkids and great grandkids who will remember his famous two-handed waves when they left the house. Survivors include his wife, Kay, his children: Cheryl Urbalejo of Guttenberg and Deb (Spider) Koetz of North Buena Vista, 10 grandchildren: John, Michael and Dustin (Jen) Urbalejo, Kelli Habel, Kim (Jacob) Breitbach, Kristine Habel, Ann Marie Habel, Randy (Norma) Koetz, Russell (Hillary) Koetz, Rhonda (Matt) Hefel;12 great grandchilden: Hunter and Paige Koetz, Kayla and Madalyn Breitbach, Evan, Alexys and Madden Urbalejo, Evelyn and Brooke Koetz, Jorgie, Gretta and Markie Hefel, 2 sisters: Stella McDermott of Benton, WI, Darlene (Loras) Clemen of Dubuque and 2 sisters-in-law: Joanne Hefel and Stella Hefel, both of North Buena Vista. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sons: Randy Habel in 1972 and John "Jack" Habel in 2013, one grandson, Jeremy Habel in 1999, a sister, Rose Habel, a brother, Cyril (Florence) Habel; in-law: James "Bert" McDermott, Milton Hefel, John "Bud" Hefel, Matt Hefel, Marie Gansemer, Loretta Decker, Edith Gloeckner, Alvina Gassmann, Edwina Schmitt, Josephine Heiderscheit, Eleanor Cook and Arlene Hefel. The family would like to say "tanks" to Benny's homecare nurses for their many visits and wonderful care, and to the the friends that visited frequently. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.