Homer C. Bienfang

Homer C. Bienfang, 86, of Clear Lake, died Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016, at Oakwood Care Center, in Clear Lake.  A memorial service was held on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, at Apple Valley Assisted Living, 405 27th Ave. S., Clear Lake, where he resided with his wife the past year.  Pastor Scot McCluskey officiated.

In lieu of flowers, family suggests memorial contributions to North Iowa Area Community College or Opportunity Village and may be sent to: Kandice Bienfang-Lee at 14632 Evergreen Ave., Clear Lake, IA 50428.

Homer was born March 25, 1929, the son of Alfred and Helen (Houck) Bienfang, in Grundy Center, Iowa.  He was united in marriage to Patricia Thompson on June 1, 1952, in Waterloo, Iowa, and to this union they had four children.

A graduate of Iowa Falls High School, Homer received undergraduate degrees in education and physical education from the University of Northern Iowa, formerly Iowa State Teachers College, while playing football there.  He continued his education at UNI and received Masters Degrees also in Education and Physical Education.  Homer was a United States Army veteran, and played football and taught the Daily Dozen while in the service.  He was honorably discharged from the Army as Captain.

Homer’s professional career was in education and a few highlights include: assistant superintendent at the Iowa Juvenile Home in Toledo, before becoming the varsity football coach at Scranton High School, where he coached the team to their first two winning seasons.  He was also a science teacher, Junior High Principal of Rockwell-Swaledale and retired as Vice President for Student Services at North Iowa Area Community College in 1990.  Homer could fix anything and enjoyed construction projects.  He built roller skating rinks in Iowa Falls, Cedar Falls, Newton, and Clear Lake.  He and Pat owned and operated the Clearview Roller Rink in Clear Lake until 1977. Homer was a part of many boards and organizations including: Clear Lake School Board, Northern Trails AEA Board, Opportunity Village Board, formerly Handicap Village, where he enjoyed his time with the residents by driving the church bus to Zion Lutheran Church and dining with residents in their cottages.  He was also on the Clear Lake Public Library Board.  He enjoyed fishing and hunting in earlier years, and always enjoyed watching football live and on television.  Grandchildren were his love and skating was his passion.  He made sure he taught each of his seven grandchildren how to skate, and always had all the necessary sizes of skates available as they grew.  He religiously attended his grandchildren’s activities and sporting events, and didn’t stop skating until three years ago.  Homer and Pat enjoyed traveling all over in their RV, including visiting their children in Texas and Florida.

Homer was a wonderful man who touched and helped many lives.  He’s remembered by his family as being very thoughtful and by far the best husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law, role model and hero that they could ever have.

Homer is survived by his wife, Pat Bienfang, of Clear Lake; three children, Kevin (Linda) Bienfang, of Fort Myers, Fla., Kendil (Sheila) Bienfang, of Clear Lake and Kandice (Jim) Bienfang-Lee, of Clear Lake; seven grandchildren, Tamarik, Erik, Torian, Kelly, Sharrell, Katrina, and Kyra; and a sister, Rochelle (John) Dungan, of Newton.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Kim; and a sister, Artis.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.