Joseph Benda

The body of Joseph Benda, who died in France, reached Brooklyn Friday afternoon, accompanied by a guard, and the funeral services were held from the Catholic church Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m., and it was the largest funeral ever held at Chelsea, 2,500 people gathering at the church to pay their last respects. Joseph Benda, son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Benda, was born at Brooklyn, Iowa, and passed away in France of influenza on October 23, 1918, at the age of twenty-two years, after a short illness. He entered military training May 24, 1918, and was soon sent to France. Besides his sorrowing parents he leaves to mourn his loss two sisters, Minnie and Barbara, and five brothers, Martin, James, Peter, John, and George. The American Legion at Brooklyn and the Benda-Sell post of Chelsea formed in a body, and the Chelsea band rendered several selections. Joseph was a young man of high moral principles, a regular attendant of the Catholic church, always interested in the progress of the Church. He has made a large circle of friends at Chelsea and Brooklyn and has occupied a place in the community that will be hard to fill. The remains were laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery, and taps were sounded at the grave. [Traer Star-Clipper; 3 June 1921]

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