grave import

Obituary

Mr. Henry Alexander (Al) Bentzinger, 71-year-old retired district manager of Iowa Southern Utilities Co., died at 5:10 pm Tuesday at his home on Madison Road. He suffered a heart attack while working in his yard.
Mr. Bentzinger, long one of Burlington’s most active civic leaders, was presented with the Burlington Citizen No. 1 award by the American Business and Kiwanis clubs in joint action in April of 1961. Three months ago he was further honored when ISU named its office building at 209 N. Third for him.
Mr. Bentzinger was one of the 12 children of Henry and Katherine Rings Bentzinger and was born in Lee County, on a farm four miles north of Donnellson on Feb. 15, 1892.
In 1911 he came to Burlington to work for Chittenden & Eastman Co. He also took a part-time job with the old People’s Gas & electric co. On Oct. 7, 1913, he joined the company as a full-time employee and dated his beginnings in the utility field from that date.
Mr. Bentzinger held various positions both in and out of Burlington for the Walsh family, controller of the utility.
“I put in the first lights in Winfield, Mediapolis, and Milton,” he stated.
In 1924, the Walsh interests were sold to ISU, who employed him as manager of its Sigourney district. Two years later he was back in Burlington, where he remained.
Many honors were accorded to Mr. Bentzinger, but none delighted him more than his designation of Honorary Girl Scout.
He was a past president of the Rotary Club; a life member of the Elks Lodge, and a member of the Flint Hills club.
He had served as chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Industrial Board and as head of the board of trustees of First Congregational Church. He was a director of Burlington Bank & Trust Co. and a member of the advisory board of St. Francis hospital.
He served as campaign chairman for the Burlington Community Chest in 1956 and 1957 and as campaign chairman for the Des Moines County Red Cross in 1962.
He retired from ISU in the late winter of 1962.
Mr. Bentzinger was married to Muriel Parker in Burlington on Sept. 23, 1927. She survives, as do a son, Dean Bentzinger, Bloomingdale, NJ; a daughter, Mrs. Gerald (Betty) Thye, 2201 Cliff Road, and three grandchildren.
A brother and two sisters also survive; Carl Bentzinger, Ottumwa; Mrs. Ella McCrea, San Jose, Calif., and Mrs. LillieIvins, Morning Sun, and several more distant relatives.
Last rites will be held at First Congregational Church at 2 pm Friday, Dr. John Rose officiating. Burial will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery. The body will be taken from Prugh Chapel to the church at 10:30.