Mark T Benson

Mark Thomas Benson, 63, of LeClaire, Iowa passed away Friday, October 22, 2010 at his home. Funeral service will be 10:00AM Monday, October 25, 2010 at the Runge Mortuary & Crematory. Visitation will be 2-7PM Sunday at the mortuary. On line condolences may be made at www.rungemortuary.com.

Mark was born on February 8, 1947 in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Edward & Ida Benson. Mark had a lifelong love of animals and while in college drove a hansom cab in Central Park, took care of a baby elephant, drove Cattleman Stagecoach through New York’s theater district, and took the Bull Durham bull on a national tour. As a young boy he had his own dog walking business.

Mark graduated from Midwood High School in 1964, where he was manager of the football team and in 1968 from City College, Baruch School of Business Administration with a BA in Industrial Management.

Upon his graduation from college in 1968, he was commissioned as a second Lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps, having been in ROTC in College. While he had orders to serve on Vietnam he was diverted to Germany, where he served in the Seventh Inventory Control Center because they needed officers with business degrees. After leaving the Army, he served in the US Army reserves and retired with the rank of Major.

Marked moved to Illinois after leaving the army and worked in a management position. He graduated from horseshoeing school and became a blacksmith, then worked for the Humane Society, & eventually becoming a patrol officer with Davenport Police Department. He served in the Scott County Sheriff’s Department for 29 years. While a Deputy Sheriff, he was president of the Scott County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, and on the Board of Directors of the State Sheriff’s Association. He retired in 2005.

Mark is survived by Joan Benson & Candace Haney, his son Sam, who works for the City of Bettendorf, his wife Miyea and their daughter, his granddaughter Aimee, of Bettendorf; his daughter Elizabeth Hunt, a horticulturist who lives in Colorado Springs, CO with her husband Matthew and their son, Mark’s grandson, Ian; as well as, his sister Patricia Marcus, of Brooklyn, NY; niece Allison and Husband Andrew Overholser, and great nephews Zachary & David; nephew Edward and wife Jeanne Marcus of Staten Island, NY; and special friend Hazel Hodges. He is also survived by his beloved dog Katie, cats Leo, Sydney, & Tulip, and horse Pizzazz.