Paula J. Benge, 73, of Fort Madison, IA, passed away at 9:31 a.m. on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington. She was born on September 14, 1952 in Fort Madison, IA to Raymond & Dorothy Greenwald Wagner. She married James Strayer on August 7, 1972 and they later divorced. She then married C. Zane Benge on May 30, 1980. He preceded her in death on January 2, 2016. She was a cashier at Easter Foods in Fort Madison, Burlington Super Value and a customer service manager at Wal-Mart. She was the assistant drive-in manager at Lee County Bank and a teacher’s aid in Fort Madison. She volunteered for the Fort Madison High School Booster Club and enjoyed puzzles, board games and any activities that her children participated in.
Paula is survived by: 2-daughters: Julie (Derek Gibbs) Stoyer of Fullerton, CA & Kelly Haley of Burlington, IA; 1-step son: Michael (Becca) Benge of Texas; 5-grandchildren: Megan Benge, Courtney Benge, Courtney Barcai, Evan Ruth & Katheryn Haley; 3-great grandchildren: Huxley, Landon & Beckett; 2-brothers: Robert (Sharon) Wagner of Omaha, NE & David (Sue) Wagner of Muscatine, IA. She was preceded in death by: her parents, husband & 3-sisters.
A private family burial will be held at Oakland Cemetery in Fort Madison. Online condolences to the Benge family may be left at the King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory website: www.kinglynk.com.
