Donald A. Beneke

A Livestream and Recording of Don's funeral service will be provided on the church's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064480308170
Donald A. Beneke, 80, of Pocahontas, died on January 11, 2025 at Accura HealthCare in Pomeroy, Iowa.
Don was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on March 23, 1944, the first child of Donald G. and Mardell Beneke. He grew up in Laurens, Iowa, graduating from Laurens High School. He attended the University of Iowa, where he received his bachelor's degree in history, then stayed to earn his law degree. He married Karoll Kyle and welcomed a daughter, Cameron.
Following graduation, Don spent three years as an attorney for the United States Department of Agriculture in St. Paul, Minnesota. He returned to Iowa and began practicing law in Pocahontas. He owned his own firm, practicing law for 51 years before retiring in 2022. For many years, he also owned Pocahontas Title Company.
Don married Helen Halverson Falor in 1975, and became a father to her children, Allison and Michael. After their son Matthew was born, their family was complete.
Don was a very intelligent, curious, and compassionate person. A voracious reader, he had many interests. Don was very active in supporting his community and organizations that were special to him. He served on these boards for two decades: Pocahontas Community Hospital, Pocahontas Public Library, and Laurens State Bank. He also volunteered his time and expertise on the Pocahontas County Hometown Pride Committee and Pocahontas County Democrats.
Don proudly served as the lawyer coach for many Pocahontas High School Mock Trial Teams over the course of 24 years, with five teams winning state championships and advancing to the national competition. The 2001 team brought home the national championship. Don was very interested in nature and conservation and served on the board of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation for over 20 years. He spent uncounted hours in leadership committees for Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever. Restoring old farmland to native prairies was a highly refined passion of his. He enjoyed spending time outdoors, including annual trips to Canada for fishing trips to his beloved Poplar Point. He cherished time with his family, who will miss his kindness, intelligent offers of sage advice, and his quick, dry sense of humor.
Don was an avid world-wide traveler, having taken two trips to China. There he and Helen saw Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, and the Great Wall of China. He and Helen also traveled to Latvia, two trips to Poland, and a Rotary mission trip to Nicaragua. Their last trip was to Scandinavia in 2019, where they enjoyed exploring Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland. Don was a marvelous traveling companion. You could always count on him to be an adventuresome traveler, a social fella, and an explorer.
Don is survived by his wife of 49 years, Helen, and their four children: Allison (Steve) Larson of Chaska, Minnesota; Mike (Annette) Falor of Waukee, Iowa; Cameron (Walt) Jones of Cave Springs, Arkansas; and Matt (Christy) Beneke of Madison, Wisconsin; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Don's sisters Ann (Laurens) and Mary (Omaha, Nebraska) Beneke also survive him.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Donald G. and Mardell Beneke, his father-in-law Donald Halverson, his mother-in-law Alice Halverson, and his brothers-in-law Merlin and Donald Halverson.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, the Pocahontas Public Library, or the Pocahontas Community Healthcare Foundation.