Roy Benaka

Roy Merle Benaka, 75, passed away September 7, 2010, in the Life Guidance section of Atria Hearthstone East in Topeka, Kansas. Roy was born July 25, 1935 in Netawaka, Kansas, the first of seven children to Wilma and Clyde Benaka. Roy began school in Netawaka before moving to Topeka. In Topeka he attended Topeka Lutheran School, Holiday Jr. High (Class of 1950) and graduated from Topeka High School in 1953. Early in his life he was employed at Santa Fe Railroad and Standard Oil Stations. Roy was enlisted in the Kansas National Guard and attended Officer’s Candidate Training school from 1953 until 1959. He also owned and operated Roy’s Standard Service in North Topeka from 1956 until 1962. The family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for two years while Roy attended Lutheran Lay Leaders training school. Upon returning to Topeka he worked at Lindsay Water Conditioning until 1976 when he began working as a Motor Vehicle Driver for the U.S. Postal Service, retiring in 1997. Until 1998 Roy continued his passion to do water softener repairs as ‘The Soft Water Doctor.’ Roy was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Topeka for many years where he taught Sunday school and served on the Board of Education for both the church and Topeka Lutheran School. He currently attended Faith Lutheran Church in Topeka. He also was a member of Active Prime Timers and Telephone Pioneers. Roy had been involved with North Topeka on the Move (NOTOMA) for several years and was a loyal member of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) for over 20 years and diligently served his fellow postal workers as a union steward. Roy is survived by his wife of over 56 years, Mary Ann Benaka; four sons, Tom (Charlotte), Tim (Sue), John (Dayna), and Mark (Cindy), all of Topeka; and one daughter, Sylvia (Todd) Warner of Overland Park. Also surviving are sisters, Ruth Hobkirk of Naples, Florida; Doris Thelen of Topeka; brother, Robert Benaka of Topeka; ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Preceeding Roy in death was his mother, Wilma Wingfield, and step-father, Warren Wingfield; father, Clyde Benaka, and step-mother, Liz Benaka; and sisters, Betty, Barbara and Deloris. Visitation will be Friday, September 10, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home located at 2801 S.W. Urish Rd. in Topeka, Kansas 66614, and the funeral service will immediately follow at 1:00 pm. Burial will be at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery at 6th and Gage in Topeka following the funeral. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Topeka Lutheran School Scholarship Fund or Faith Lutheran Church, sent in care of the funeral home. Roy’s family would like to express their appreciation to all of his caregivers at Atria Life Guidance for their service and kindness over the past year as well as Midland Hospice for their care and support during his final hours.

Roy Benaka

July 25, 1935 - September 10, 2010