Obituary for Elaine Marie Benz
Mrs. Elaine Marie (Adams) Benz, age 56, of Russellville, Mo., passed away Sunday, February 26, 2023, at Capital Region Medical Center surrounded by her loving family.
Elaine was born in Jefferson City on November 28, 1966, the youngest child of Paul Leroy and Nina Marie (Wright) Adams. Her mother lovingly gave her the nickname of “Pooh.” Elaine was united in marriage on October 8, 1993, in Jefferson City to Mark Benz, who survives at the home.
A lifelong resident of the central Missouri area, Elaine was a 1985 graduate of Jefferson City High School. It was during her time at Nichols Career Center that she took courses in printing and was awarded a job at PM Printing for her efforts through their program.
She was employed as an Offset Printer at PM Printing for over 30 years where she ran the daily operations including printing, book binding and organizing. For the past six years she had been working at Command Web where she was a Web Plate Setter.
Elaine enjoyed spending time at the lake where she looked forward to riding wave runners and was a talented water skier, even being able to ski with her bare feet. She loved classic rock and enjoyed going to concerts with family and friends. Elaine was a classic car nut and could be found visiting car shows on the weekends with her Car Group. She was mechanically inclined and would help Mark work on cars at the house. An animal lover at heart, she had a special place for her dogs and cats and would take in many rescue animals. She enjoyed her NASCAR, especially Jeff Gordon #24, and the Dallas Cowboys.
Some would call her rough around the edges, but to those that knew Elaine, they would call her a fiercely loyal, strong willed, stubborn lady with a great sense of humor and a heart of gold. Giving was in her nature and she was always there to help a friend or stranger in need. In fact, her last giving gesture was being a donor to those she could assist.
Survivors include: her loving husband, Mark; step-daughter, Alana Wardenburg (Jeremy) of Millersburg, Mo. and their children Ava and Cole; four siblings, Rhonda Monteer (Rick) of Laurie, Mo., Gwen Propst of Palmetto, Fl., Connie Stith (Rick) of Tampa, Fl. and Paul R. Adams (Shelly) of Lohman, Mo.; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and a great-great-nephew; special neighbors, Tom and Brenda Crain; her beloved animals, Titan, Ellie, Socks, Tommy, Chance, Shed, Calvin and Webster; a host of friends and her cherished “Car Group” friends.
Elaine was preceded in death by her parents and maternal grandma, Alice Swinney, who she was extremely close with.
Visitation will be held at Freeman Mortuary from 11:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., Saturday, March 4, 2023.
A celebration of Elaine’s life will begin at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, March 4, 2023, in the Freeman Chapel with the Reverend Mark Kiekhaefer officiating. Graveside services and interment will follow at Hawthorn Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Wild Thing: Feral Feline Fix by mailing all donations to PO Box 95, Jefferson City, MO 65102.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Freeman Mortuary, 915 Madison St, Jefferson City, MO 65101.
Elaine was born in Jefferson City on November 28, 1966, the youngest child of Paul Leroy and Nina Marie (Wright) Adams. Her mother lovingly gave her the nickname of “Pooh.” Elaine was united in marriage on October 8, 1993, in Jefferson City to Mark Benz, who survives at the home.
A lifelong resident of the central Missouri area, Elaine was a 1985 graduate of Jefferson City High School. It was during her time at Nichols Career Center that she took courses in printing and was awarded a job at PM Printing for her efforts through their program.
She was employed as an Offset Printer at PM Printing for over 30 years where she ran the daily operations including printing, book binding and organizing. For the past six years she had been working at Command Web where she was a Web Plate Setter.
Elaine enjoyed spending time at the lake where she looked forward to riding wave runners and was a talented water skier, even being able to ski with her bare feet. She loved classic rock and enjoyed going to concerts with family and friends. Elaine was a classic car nut and could be found visiting car shows on the weekends with her Car Group. She was mechanically inclined and would help Mark work on cars at the house. An animal lover at heart, she had a special place for her dogs and cats and would take in many rescue animals. She enjoyed her NASCAR, especially Jeff Gordon #24, and the Dallas Cowboys.
Some would call her rough around the edges, but to those that knew Elaine, they would call her a fiercely loyal, strong willed, stubborn lady with a great sense of humor and a heart of gold. Giving was in her nature and she was always there to help a friend or stranger in need. In fact, her last giving gesture was being a donor to those she could assist.
Survivors include: her loving husband, Mark; step-daughter, Alana Wardenburg (Jeremy) of Millersburg, Mo. and their children Ava and Cole; four siblings, Rhonda Monteer (Rick) of Laurie, Mo., Gwen Propst of Palmetto, Fl., Connie Stith (Rick) of Tampa, Fl. and Paul R. Adams (Shelly) of Lohman, Mo.; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and a great-great-nephew; special neighbors, Tom and Brenda Crain; her beloved animals, Titan, Ellie, Socks, Tommy, Chance, Shed, Calvin and Webster; a host of friends and her cherished “Car Group” friends.
Elaine was preceded in death by her parents and maternal grandma, Alice Swinney, who she was extremely close with.
Visitation will be held at Freeman Mortuary from 11:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., Saturday, March 4, 2023.
A celebration of Elaine’s life will begin at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, March 4, 2023, in the Freeman Chapel with the Reverend Mark Kiekhaefer officiating. Graveside services and interment will follow at Hawthorn Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Wild Thing: Feral Feline Fix by mailing all donations to PO Box 95, Jefferson City, MO 65102.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Freeman Mortuary, 915 Madison St, Jefferson City, MO 65101.