Eric "Maverick" John Benton

Eric John Benton, the son of Darrell and Verleen (Christensen) Benton, was born November 8, 1962, in Audubon, Iowa and died January 10, 2016, at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, Iowa at the age of 53 years, 2 months, and 2 days.
Eric was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. He attended Audubon Community Schools graduating with the High School Class of 1981. Eric moved to Texas amd was an oil rigging entrepreneur for several years.
While in Texas he met Charlene Black and they were united in marriage in 1987, Two daughters Joni and Kelly were born to this union. In 1988 they moved to Ross, Iowa and later purchased and acreage between Audubon and Manning. Eric was employed at AGP for 27 years where he was involved in the extracting process for soybeans. Also during his spare time Eric painted buildings and houses with Doug Hilsabeck, worked construction, and built garden ponds.
Eric enjoyed going to auctions and buying exotic animals. He also enjoyed traveling to the Amish settlements and observing their way of life. He enjoyed fishing especially with his friend Buzz Cavanaugh. Eric loved to socialize and never knew a stranger. His greatest joy was spending time with his family and especially his grandchildren. Eric was concerned about everyone else before himself as a result decided to become a donor and after he died donated tissue to the Iowa Donor Network.
Preceding him in death was his mother Verleen “Blondie” Benton; his grandparents Sigurd and Thomine Christensen; his nephew Hunter Lee Logan; and his best friends Gene Johansen, Michael Munch, and Dennis Hacker.
Survivors include his daughters Joni and husband Jon Dickman and their children Joseph, Kylee, and Riley all of Coon Rapids, Iowa and Kelly Benton and fiancé Josh Korwes and their children Chayton and Emma all of Dedham, Iowa; his girlfriend/companion Christy Justice of Manilla, Iowa; his brothers and sister Jeff Benton of Des Moines, Iowa, Mike and wife Lisa Benton and their children Marcus, Spencer, and Isaac all of Van Meter, Iowa, and Lori Graves and her son Remmington Logan both of Sioux Rapids, Iowa, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Gordon Bucholtz on Thursday, January 14, 2016, at 10:30 A.M. at St John’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Kimballton, Iowa. The honorary casket bearers will be James “Buzz” Cavanaugh, Doug Hilsabeck, Larry Justice, Charles Hansen, Robert Christensen, David Christensen, Keith Muhlbauer, Curt Jensen, Greg Hansen, Gerald Christensen, and Scott Hansen, the casket bearers will be Rusty Schneider , Roger Wegner, Lonnie Haubrich, Steve Andersen, Tony Hilsabeck, Jeff Nielsen, Randy “Fred” Nissen, and Chris Johnson. The family will meet with friends Wednesday evening at 4:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home In Audubon, Iowa.