Benjamin "Ben" Moore

Benjamin "Ben" Moore, 58, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died unexpectedly in the Emergency Room of the Henry County Health Center on Thursday, February 26, 2015. A visitation will be held, Wednesday, March 4, 2015, from 12 noon to 7 p.m. at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel with the family receiving friends from 4-7 p.m. that evening. A funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 5 at the Calvary Baptist Church with Pastor Mike Hess and Pastor Daniel Franklin officiating. Interment will be Pleasant Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials have been established to Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center, the Calvary Baptist Church or Grace Bible Church. Born September 27, 1956 in Danville, IL, Benjamin Jean was the son of Edward Spring and Winifred Lee (Lambright) Moore. He graduated from Catlin High School in Catlin, IL. He attended the University of Illinois and received his Bachelors of Science degree in Agronomy Crops. On June 2, 1984, he married Sheila A. McDade at the Grace Bible Church in Urbana, IL. Ben began his career at Pioneer Hi-Bred in St. Joseph IL. He transferred to Princeton, IL working as an agronomist, and later returned to St. Joseph where he was assistant plant manager. He became the plant manager of the Pioneer Hi-Bred Production Plant in Mt. Pleasant, IA in 1986 and served in that capacity until their closing in 2014. In the summer of 2014, Beck's Superior Hybrids reopened the production plant and hired Ben as the Production Location Manager. He was excited to start his new career with a company that matched his core values and Beck's and their people quickly became an integral part of his life. A member of Calvary Baptist Church, Ben served as an usher and trustee. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoyed hunting, and had many trail cameras. A founding member of the Henry County Pheasants Forever chapter in Mt. Pleasant, Ben served as president for 25 years. He was honored by being inducted to the Pheasants Forever Hall of Fame in 2010. He also served as president of the Izaak Walton League in Fairfield, IA. Ben was a range officer in the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) and competed bi-weekly garnering many awards for pistol shooting. A favorite hobby included establishing and tending many deer food plots. In recent years, he added beekeeping to his beloved activities. Definitely a "green man," Ben loved his John Deere tractor. He deeply loved his family, including his dogs. Survivors include his wife, Sheila, of Mt. Pleasant, IA; two daughters, Calli Moore of Washington DC and Leah Moore of Coralville, IA; his father, Edward Moore of Catlin, IL; a sister, Kate (Greg) Hughes of Coral Springs, FL; a brother, Sherman (Margie) Moore of Arnold, MD; his in-laws, Darrell and Mary McDade of Urbana, IL; and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death is his mother, Winifred Moore.