Benedict Gerald Hunter Sr., 91, of DeWitt, Iowa, died peacefully
Friday, May 20, 2005, at Iowa Masonic Nursing Center, in
Bettendorf. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 24, 2005,
at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, DeWitt. Visitation will be Monday,
May 23, 2005, from 4 to 7 p.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church
Gathering Space, DeWitt, where a prayer service will follow. Memorials
can be made to St. Joseph's Church or to Iowa Masonic Nursing
Center. Nelson Funeral Home, Dewitt, is in charge of arrangements.

Ben was born on the family farm northeast of DeWitt on April 16, 1914,
to Charles F. and Lillian Reed Hunter. He graduated from St. Joseph's
High School and attended the University of Iowa, majoring in chemical
engineering. His formal education was interrupted when his brother,
Jack, became ill and Ben returned to DeWitt to run Jack's business
until he recovered. After Jack died, Ben stayed in the "filling
station" business, branching out into truck deliveries and eventually
into the agricultural chemical business. Ben incorporated bread, milk,
and pop into some stations, creating simple versions of today's
convenience stores. His "retirement" from Standard Oil/Amoco in 1976
meant transitioning into independent jobber status and the creation of
"Hunter Service Company". He retired in the late 1980's after selling
the various aspects of his business.

Ben married Gladys Loar on Oct. 29, 1940, and they worked together to
create a home, raise four children, and build a business. Gladys died
on April 2, 2002, after 61 years of marriage.

Ben volunteered for the Army on Dec. 31, 1942, and during his
stateside training, Gladys followed him to Aberdeen, Md. She would be
able to remain only if she found a place to rent, which was extremely
difficult in a military-focused Maryland town. After pounding on doors
for many days, she found one person who would listen because Gladys
was from Iowa. That kind person moved her children out of a bedroom
and rented the room to Ben and Gladys. Ben was transferred to the Red
River Arsenal in Texarkana, Texas, and Gladys went with
him. Eventually, Ben was ordered to ship out with his men. He risked
military discipline to quickly drive his young family back to
Iowa. They stopped for gas not far from home when a service station
attendant ran out shouting "The war is over! The war is over!" Ben
left his family safely in DeWitt, returned to Texarkana, and was
discharged several months later in 1946. He returned to DeWitt, his
family, and the oil business.

Ben was a very quiet man who focused on business and family. Those
fortunate enough to know him recognized his tremendous intellect, kind
heart, humble nature, and dry sense of humor. Throughout his life, Ben
quietly helped many people, never seeking accolades or
acknowledgement. Ben always thought first and spoke second, if
necessary.

In addition to lifetime membership in St. Joseph's Catholic Church,
Ben was 4th Degree, Knights of Columbus and a lifetime member of the
American Legion.

Left to honor his memory are his son, Gerald M. (Kate), DeWitt; and
daughters. Ruth Ann Strobbe, Frisco, Texas, Nancy Schold (Sam),
Sherrard, Ill., Sally Dietzen (Mike) Lake Zurich, Ill.; grandchildren,
Lisa Strobbe, Lori Strobbe, Patrick Hunter, Matthew Hunter (Lanna),
Andrew Hunter, James Dietzen, and Brian Dietzen; great-granddaughter,
Madina Grace Strobbe; brother, Charles (Chuck) Hunter, DeWitt;
sisters, Florence Koleski, Ashland, Wis., and Mary Ann Manship,
Coolidge, Ariz.; sister-in-law, Isabelle Farnham, Boulder, Colo.; and
many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Gladys, infant son, Arthur
Charles, son-in-law, James B. Strobbe, parents, and brothers, Jack
Hunter and Joseph Hunter.

The family thanks Iowa Masonic Nursing Center for the wonderful care
provided to Ben during his stay and especially during his final days.

Quad-City Times
5/22/2005.

			    Gladys Hunter

 DeWITT, Iowa -- Services for Gladys Hunter of DeWitt will be 10:30
 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, DeWitt. Burial will be
 in St. Joseph Cemetery, DeWitt. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Friday at
 Nelson Heesch Funeral Home, DeWitt, with a prayer service at 7
 p.m. Mrs. Hunter died Tuesday, April 2, 2002, in North Little Rock,
 Ark., of complications after a stroke. Eva Gladys Loar was born in
 Buena Vista, Texas, on Feb. 22, 1915, to Arthur and Mary (Ulfers)
 Loar. She later moved with her family to Rock Island and then to
 DeWitt, where she graduated from high school in 1933. She was a
 charter member of the DeWitt Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi philanthropic
 sorority and worked at Iowa Mutual Insurance Co. before her
 marriage. She married Benedict G. Hunter on Oct. 29, 1940, at
 St. Joseph's Church. Her family was the focus of her life, and in
 addition to being a homemaker, she was a partner in the family
 business, Hunter Service Co. She was an outstanding cook and was well
 known for her wonderful baked goods. Ben and Gladys had traveled to
 Arkansas to escape the Iowa winter and to spend time with their
 daughter, Ruth Ann, and granddaughters. Pallbearers will be
 grandsons, Patrick Hunter, Logan, Utah, Matthew Hunter and Andrew
 Hunter, Provo, Utah, Jim Dietzen, Normal, Ill., and Brian Dietzen,
 Lake Zurich, Ill., and son-in-law Sam Schold, Sherrard, Ill. Other
 survivors (and spouses) include her husband, Ben; daughters, Sally
 (Mike) Dietzen, Lake Zurich, Ill., Nancy (Sam) Schold, Sherrard,
 Ill., and Ruth Ann Strobbe, Jacksonville, Ark.; son, Gerald
 M. (Kathleen) Hunter, Frederick, Md.; granddaughters Lisa Strobbe,
 Bryant, Ark., and Lori Strobbe, Frisco, Texas; and a sister, Isabelle
 Farnham, Boulder, Colo. She was preceded by an infant son, Arthur
 Charles; her son-in-law, James B. Strobbe; her parents; her sister,
 Ruth Minor; and brothers, Edwin Loar and James Loar.

04/04/2002
Quad City Times