C. Allan Benson, age 88 of Clear Lake, WI, died on Tuesday, March 13, 2007, at the Willow Ridge Health Care Center in Amery, where he had been a resident for the past several months.
C. Allan Benson was born on May 26, 1918, in Clear Lake, WI, the son of Charles and Rose (Turcott) Benson. He was baptized in infancy at St. John's Catholic Church in Clear Lake and he attended Clear Lake schools, graduating in 1937.
After graduation, Allan went to work with his father at the Clearol Oil Company station in Clear Lake.
In 1940, he was married to Illa Mae Winchell and together they raised one son, David.
Allan entered the US Army in 1944 and served in the Philippines and the Japanese occupation as a first sergeant in the field artillery. He received the good conduct medal, American defense service medal, and two overseas bars. After Allan was honorably discharged in 1946, he returned to the Clearol station and remodeled the building. In a short while, he acquired the Pontiac/GMC and Minneapolis/Moline machinery franchise, and Allan and his brother Douglas purchased the Clearol Oil Company station from their father.
His brother left in 1966 to return to the service and later the propane franchise held by Clearol was sold to Russell Scott. After Allan suffered a heart attack in 1972, Wayne Clark worked as manager while he was recuperating. At this time, the bulk gas business was sold to Gene Kuhl. Allan was also very active in the Clear Lake community. He served for 25 years on the board of directors for the Bank of Clear Lake and also served for many years on the Cemetery Board.
Allan was also mayor of the village of Clear Lake for 10 years. He was active in village affairs and was instrumental in getting the Clear Lake golf course developed. In 1977 his wife Illa Mae died and his son David returned to Clear Lake to work with his father who was retiring.
In 1981, Allan was married to Irma Westring of Frederic, WI. During his retirement, they did a lot of traveling and had a winter home in McAllen, TX. The Clearol garage was donated to the village and became the Clear Lake Village Ambulance Service. He also contributed monetarily to the Clear Lake Museum, Community Center, Veterans Memorial, and other worthwhile causes.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Illa Mae; his parents, Charles and Rose Benson; brother, Douglas Benson; sisters, Mildred (Louie) Stirens, Vie (Walt) Josephson, and Beverlie (Howard) Mewes.
He is survived by his wife, Irma Benson of Clear Lake; son, David (Jan) Benson of Star Prairie, WI; step daughters, Doris Hofmeister of Vadnais Heights, MN, and Pauline (Frank) Yanez of Blaine, MN; granddaughter, Amber (Sean) Cadotte of Bayfield, WI; 3 great grandsons; 7 step grandchildren; sister-in-law Bev Benson of Eau Claire; many other relatives and friends.
Scheuermann-Hammer Funeral Home, Clear Lake, WI, was in charge of arrangements.
Funeral services were at First Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, Wisconsin on Friday, March 16, 2007, at 11 a.m. with Pastor Bryan Anderson officiating. Organist was Juanita Wood.
Casketbearers were Bennie Bannink, Robin Larson, Lyman Dreier, Don Weber, Gene Kuhl and Scott Wood. Interment was in the Clear Lake Cemetery, Clear Lake, WI, with Military Honors by Clear Lake Area Veterans Honor Guard.
(Amery Free Press - Tuesday, March 20, 2007)
