Jack Arden Behrens

Jack Arden Behrens died peacefully at home after a long illness on Saturday, June 4, 2022. Jack was born in Knoxville, Iowa, on January 16, 1946, to Harold and Kathryn Behrens, but grew up and graduated from high school in Newton, Iowa. He lived with his parents, and siblings, Joe and Jane, on a small acreage on the edge of town. He was an Eagle Scout, led the high school Pep Band, and played the trombone. He was a hard worker and self-made man, putting himself through college and dental school working construction and various jobs.  Jack did his undergraduate work at Iowa State University. He went on to study at the College of Dentistry at the University of Iowa. At U of Iowa, he met his wife, Randa, through mutual friends. They married there in Iowa City in 1970 and he graduated with his DDS degree in 1971. Immediately after graduation, he joined the US Army Dental Corp and was a dentist for the 101st Airborne Unit until 1974. During this time, they had their two sons, Kirk and Scott.  In the summer of 1974, the family moved back to Iowa where Jack joined a general dentistry practice in Newton. After several years Jack decided to purchase his own private dental practice in Burlington, Iowa. He took care of his patients’ dental needs there for thirty-four years until his retirement. He served in various roles with the DesMoines County Dental Society. He was also a member of the Burlington Golf Club and, later on, the DesMoines Model Airplane Club. He was a loving father who supported his family and sons by providing college educations, family skiing vacations, road trips around the US, and sporting activities including golf, tennis, and swimming. In 2012 Jack and Randa moved to Edison Park, Illinois, to be close to their two sons’ families. Jack enjoyed helping their families with various home improvement and repair projects. He had plenty of experience, having done the same for his family all his life. He spent his time with family and watching his three grandsons grow up and teaching them his values.  He is survived by his wife Randa; his son Kirk Behrens, wife Linda, and their sons Jack Thomas and Alexander James; his son Scott Behrens, wife Christine, and their son Owen Lee.  He was preceded in death by his parents and brother and sister. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to: Tunnel to Towers Foundation:  www.t2t.org  or the New Hope Community Food Pantry: www.newhopefoodpantry.com of Chicago. The Memorial Service will be held at 11:30 AM Saturday June 18, 2022 First United Methodist Church,  418 West Touhy Ave, Park Ridge, IL  60068

Service will be livestream:  www.memorialslive.com/behrens No visitation will be held.  A celebration of life will be held in Burlington, IA on Saturday, August 6.

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