“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)

Beloved mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend Joan “Jody” Benken died peacefully at home July 3. Jody was born Nov. 9, 1932, to Eleanore (Andres) Guelzow and Paul Guelzow in Peoria, Illinois and was raised in Ironton, Missouri. She graduated from high school in 1950 and went on to study home economics at Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana. She graduated in 1954.

On August 4, 1956, Jody married Rev. F. Richard Benken and moved to New Britain, where Richard pastored St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church; and they had their first child. In 1957, Richard accepted a call to the Lutheran Church of Madison and the family moved to Madison. Jody was passionate about family and was a devoted wife and mother. She also loved to read and, in between grocery store runs and loads of laundry, she found time to “work” at The Book Swap in Guilford. Not only did this provide respite from four kids and a dog, but she got paid in paperbacks. After the kids were grown, Jody worked in market research with Karen Associates, though later in life she was known to hang up on “those annoying telemarketers.” Once the grandchildren came, she quickly turned her attention back to family. In 2013, the retired couple moved to Covenant Living of Cromwell.

Jody is survived by her sister Faith Collins; her children, Betsy (Vern) Lunt, Peter Benken, Kris Smith and Andy (Diana) Benken; her grandchildren: Daniel (Nicole), Katie (Michael), Stephanie, Madeline, Ben (Maryanne), Adam, Erin and Christopher; her great-grandchildren: Lukas, Emma, Anna, Emily and Charlotte; and many friends and loved ones.

Jody was a faithful servant who always considered others more important than herself. She was generous regardless of what she had to sacrifice of herself. She was eternally optimistic and encouraged others even in the worst of circumstances. She listened. She prayed. She loved. “Can I get you something to eat?”

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 15, at the Lutheran Church of Madison, 9 Britton Lane, Madison. A reception will follow the service. The family will hold a private Rite of Christian Burial at West Cemetery in Madison. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Orphan Grain Train, 601 W. Phillip Ave, PO Box 1466, Norfolk, NE 68702 (ogt.org) or Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave. New York, NY 10065 (mskcc.org) or a charity of your choice. The family wishes to thank all who cared for Jody, especially Grace, Cara, Kathy, Claudette and the many other angels from CLOC, Home Instead, and Middlesex Health Home Care & Hospice. Arrangements in care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St, Guilford. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.