Hazel Lenore Bengard

Hazel Lenore (Brownsberger) Bengard, the daughter of Edward and Gertrude (Michael) Brownsberger, was born February 12, 1934, in Mount Rose, Missouri. She died March 27, 2018, at her home in Exira, Iowa at the age of 84 years, 1 month, and 15 days, after a long and private battle with breast cancer.

Hazel was baptized in Mount Rose, Missouri and confirmed in Anita, Iowa. She attended Anita Community Schools graduating with the High School Class of 1953. She was then employed with Look Magazine in Des Moines, Iowa for a short time.

On March 6, 1954, she was united in marriage to Terry Bengard. Six children: Katherine, Terri, Tami, Toni, Brett, and Karen were born to this union. They made their home in the Exira area where she was a homemaker raising her children. In 1972, she started her own business the Exira Flower shop where she operated that until the late 70’s. She became a licensed realtor for a short time. She then helped raise her grandchildren where she was a full time grandma for her 10 grandchildren.

She was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Exira, the Altar Rosary Society, and taught Sunday school for several years. She had a green thumb and enjoyed taking care of her flowers and plants. For several years, she helped deliver meals for Meals on Wheels in Exira. But most of all she loved to spend time with her family especially her grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her two infant daughters Katherine and Karen Bengard; her parents; her brothers and sisters: Ed Brownsberger, Fred Brownsberger, Dan Brownsberger, Mary Culp, and Beverly Brownsberger.

Survivors include her husband Terry “Buz” Bengard of Exira, Iowa; her children: Terri (Kurt) Lawson of Carroll, Iowa, Tami (Joe) Hinkel of Omaha, Nebraska, Toni (Mike) Geier and Brett (Patti) Bengard of Council Bluffs, Iowa; her grandchildren: Tera Lawson, Chad (Kelly) Lawson, Jacob Lawson, Jeff (Jessica) Hacker, Jennifer (Kim) Preheim, Kyle (Tammy) Johnson, Rachel (Ian) Kerns, Linsey (Mark) Otte, Preston (Jen) Johnson, and Jack Geier; her great grandchildren: Caden, twins Emma and Olivia Lawson, Lewis, twins Riley and Spencer Hacker, Rebecca and Isaac Preheim, Mason Johnson, Cole, twins Leah and Aaden Kerns, Miles Otte and Hudson Johnson; her brothers and sisters: Joy (Ernie) Davis, Judy (Max) Wilson, Phillip ( Barbara) Brownsberger, Paul Brownsberger, Avis Petty, Deana (Pat) Lewis, Cecelia Stowe (Molly), and Stephanie (Mike) Bessire; her brother-in-laws, Charles Culp, Jed “Wendy” Bengard, sisters-in-laws Phyllis Brownsberger and Dottie Brownsberger; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be conducted by Father Antony Mathew on Saturday, March 31, 2018, at 10:30 A.M. at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Exira, Iowa. Burial will be in the Exira Cemetery. There will be a rosary held on Friday, March 30, 2018, at 3:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira with family visitation to follow from 3:30 P.M. to 5:30 P.M.