Brian Benda

TOLEDO-Brian James Benda, 61, of Toledo, passed away on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown. A Memorial Visitation will be held Tuesday, February 25, 2025 from 3-7 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama. A Celebration of Life will be held in the near future.

Brian was born on December 1, 1963, in Marshalltown, Iowa, the son of Gary and Dorothy (Zhorne) Benda.

He graduated from South Tama High School in 1982 and from Iowa State in 1986 with a degree in Animal Science.

On June 21, 1986, he was united in marriage to Lynette Kinseth at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Grinnell. Brian was a lifetime farmer and formerly worked at Hayek Construction.

Brian was a member of the Tama-Toledo Country Club, Iowa State Alumni Association and Cyclone Club and had football season tickets for forty years. In his spare time, he enjoyed golfing, fishing, and woodworking. Brian could fix anything and was known as “Mr. MacGyver”, fixing things with any object available. He loved his animals, but his family and grandkids were his greatest joy. Brian always had a smile to share and was willing to help anyone.

Survivors include his wife of thirty-eight years, Lynette of Toledo; daughter, Ashley (Payton) Huinker of Des Moines; son, Dr. Kyle Benda of Washington, DC; grandchildren, Avery and Ryann Huinker; parents, Gary and Dorothy Benda of Toledo; sister, Sheryl (Bill) Jesina of Toledo; brother, Brad (Carolyn) Benda of Toledo; mother-in-law, Delores Kinseth of Grinnell; brother-in-law, Scott (Diane) Kinseth of Independence; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Bob Kinseth; daughter-in-law, Emma Benda; and his four labs, Samantha, Bailey, Boomer, and Bianca.

A memorial fund will be established.