A photo of Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch

Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch 1930 - 2017

Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch of Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California United States was born on October 11, 1930 in Seattle, King County, WA to George Lawrence Benning and Eileen Constance (Tasker) Benning. She married Frank Kroetch on March 26, 1949 in Bellingham, Whatcom County and they later divorced in July 1968 in Sandpoint, Bonner County, Idaho. They had children Kathleen Rae (Kroetch) Pinna and Pam (Kroetch) Marks. She married Jack Wendell Vandever on November 28, 1969 in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, California and they later divorced in 1974 in San Jose, Santa Clara County. Marian Kroetch died at age 86 years old on September 10, 2017 at White Blossom Care Center in San Jose, Santa Clara County, and was buried in October 2017 at Ashes scattered in Half Moon Bay.

Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch

Joyce Vandever, Grandma Joyce, M. Joyce Vandever, Joyce Kroetch

Valley Village Retirement Center in Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California United States

October 11, 1930

Seattle, King County, Washington, United States

September 10, 2017

White Blossom Care Center in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California, United States

Female

Looking for another Marian Benning?

Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch Marian Kroetch (1930 - 2017)

ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM

Find records

Birth records

Marriage records

Divorce records

Death records

Find records

Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch's History: 1930 - 2017

Uncover new discoveries and connections today by sharing about people & moments from yesterday.

- Discover how AncientFaces works.

Introduction

Joyce Vandever (as she was known in her later years) was a loving mother of two daughters Kathleen Rae (Kroetch) Pinna & Pam (Kroetch) Marks who she had with Frank Kroetch, and grandma to two grandchildren Daniel J Pinna & Layne. Joyce had a half-sister, Lois (Benning) Ewen, the product of her father's first marriage. She also had a step-brother, Charles Henry Barrett Jr., from her mother's second marriage to Charles Henry "Heine" Barrett. She had many friends and relatives in California, Washington state, England and Wales. Her best childhood and lifelong closest friend was Beverly Clarice (Washington) Scoffone in Monte Sereno California. Joyce loved being a grandmother and spent countless weekends with her grandchildren. She lived in the California Hawaiian mobile home park at 3637 Snell Ave in San Jose for many years when it was an adult community. To hear Joyce describe herself see Joyce Vandever In Her Own Words
10/11

1930

Birthday

October 11, 1930

Birthdate

Seattle, King County, Washington United States

Birthplace

ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM
View birth records
Ethnicity & Family History

Caucasian: Primarily Welsh, German, and Dutch. Grandma was particularly partial to her Welsh/English roots, having frequently visited from the States during her life. She introduced the tradition of attending the Scottish Highland games to her children and grandchildren - even though she had no Scottish ancestry, she was partial to Scotland (and Scottish men!). Note: So that may explain her immediate attraction to my father, Frank! Although he identified as German (probably because of his surname) for most of his life, his father was half Scottish and his mother was mainly Scottish. Mom married a Scottish man! - Kathy
Nationality & Locations

United States of America. Born in Seattle WA and raised in Portland OR and Bremerton Washington, she eventually settled in the California Bay Area. The last forty or so years she lived in San Jose California.
Early Life & Education

Grade school in Portland OR and Bremerton WA, Bremerton High School, and the University of Washington.
Religious Beliefs

Nominally Baptist, because her father's family was Southern Baptist. But her mother was Church of England and attended the Episcopal Church in the United States. Joyce really didn't subscribe to any particular religion although she attended the Baptist Church when she was a child.
Military Service

Joyce was not part of the military but she was raised in Bremerton Washington which had a military base (naval). During World War 2 the military would often launch hundreds of blimps to protect from possible air bombings. And because of the Naval nature of the area, and because her father was the President of the Chamber of Commerce during World War II, my grandfather and grandmother would often host dinner parties at their home for the local military men - including General Doolittle.
Professional Career

Grandma held various secretarial roles over the years. I remember in the early - mid 1990's I was always amazed at how fast she could type! I was confused at her high WPM as computers didn't exist when she was working full time. She had learned how to type (without typos!) on a manual typewriter. She worked both in Emergency Services ( County Communications on Communication Hill) in San Jose, California and at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center - an emergency hospital & clinic where she was secretary to the Director of Finance and to the Medical Director of Mental Health - and where both of her daughters ended up working for a number of years as well. Joyce was highly respected from the janitors to doctors and the board. A further note: When she was pregnant with me (her eldest), she worked at Gerber Foods, a local cannery, on the line. After I and my sister were born, she worked on the switchboard at San Jose Water Company. When we moved to Seattle for a few years, she worked as office help for a dentist and then when we moved back to Santa Clara County (Saratoga), she worked through Manpower, a temporary help agency. The majority of her professional life was spent in some capacity around the medical profession. When Joyce was in high school, she volunteered as a Candy Striper at a local hospital. To her great dismay, she was assigned a patient by room number and when she got to the room, she discovered that it was her father. She didn't even know that her father was ill - and that it was terminal. The experience haunted her during her entire life. The medical profession seems to be a generational theme running through her maternal line. Joyce's Welsh grandmother, when she didn't get along with her stepmother, moved as a teen to London and worked "with the Sisters". Her mother, in her later life, worked as a vocational nurse at a nursing home in Seattle, a hospital in Seward Alaska, a hospital in Redwood City CA, and as a caretaker in Mesa, AZ. So Joyce followed suit? Joyce's eldest worked in the Public Health Dept. out of college, and off and on at a local hospital. Her younger daughter retired from the same hospital.
Personal Life & Family

She was always a very social person who treated everyone equally with respect. I remember she would volunteer at the San Jose History museum, and was active at her senior mobile home community, Cal Hawaiian off Snell.
09/10

2017

Death

September 10, 2017

Death date

Natural causes. Her dementia led to numerous falls which hurt her physically over her last decade. She eventually stopped eating and passed away.

Cause of death

White Blossom Care Center in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California United States
Death location

ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM
View death records
10/dd

2017

Gravesite & Burial

October 2017

Funeral date
Ashes scattered in Half Moon Bay, CA
Burial location
Obituary

Marian 'Joyce' Vandever passed away due to natural causes on September 10, 2017 at the White Blossom Care Center in San Jose, California. Joyce was born in Seattle, Washington to George and Eileen 'Connie' Tasker Benning. She attended schools in Bremerton, Washington where her father owned the local Chevy dealership. While attending the University of Washington, Joyce met her future husband, Frank Kroetch. After their marriage in 1949, they relocated to the Willow Glen area of San Jose, CA, where both their daughters were born. Joyce first worked as an operator at the San Jose Water works, and later spent her career working for Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Joyce served in the position as the secretary to the CFO for over 16 years, then retired 5 years later, while secretary to the head of the mental health division. Joyce loved traveling to the British Isles, taking road trips with her friends, attending plays and musicals, and spending time with her two grandchildren. Joyce was preceded in death by her husbands, Frank Kroetch and Jack Vandever; her sister, Lois Benning Ewen; and stepbrother, Charles H. Barrett. She is survived by her daughters, Kathleen Pinna and Pam Marks (Neil); grandchildren, Daniel Pinna (Lisa) and Layne Marks-Jacobs; and numerous nieces and nephews. Marian “Joyce” Vandever San Jose, CA Oct. 11, 1930 to Sept. 10, 2017
share

Memories

below

Join 26 others
who remember Marian

Select options below to share special moments.

Baptism Add Memory Add Photo Ask others to share How this works

Share what you remember.
Ask what you wish to know.
Connect to discover more.
Advertisement
Did you know?

Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch lived 13 years longer than the average Benning family member when she died at the age of 86.

The average age of a Benning family member is 73.
share

Memories

below

66 Memories, Stories & Photos about Marian

Daniel Pinna

9.03k+ favorites

09/26/2023

Joyce with her grandchildren

My grandmother Joyce with her two grandchildren at Easter. Six years ago today you passed away. You missed your first great-grandchild by 1,114 days.

Thank you for everything grandma.

Date & Place: April 2014 in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California United States

Comments

Pam Marks

2.51k+ favorites

09/25/2023

Lorraine Apartments, San Jose, CA

A photo of the Lorraine Apartments, So. 4th St., San Jose, CA. Photo taken by Joyce Benning Kroetch while she and her husband Frank were living there in 1949. Frank was attending San Jose State at the time.

Date & Place: 1949 in San Jose, California USA

Comments

Pam Marks

2.51k+ favorites

09/25/2023

Joyce, Kathleen & Frank Kroetch

Photo of 7 week-old daughter, Kathleen Kroetch, with proud parents Joyce Benning Kroetch and Frank Kroetch. Taken at their home in Willow Glen.

Date & Place: February 1950 at Willow Glen in San Jose, California USA

Comments

Lori Russell

7.03k+ favorites

04/17/2021

I do know that when my grandma Ruth Mussleman . Was in California at one time. With her then husband Donivan Musselman.

Favorite

Lori Russell

7.03k+ favorites

04/17/2021

Her 1st husband. Was donnivan J Musselman. Then he died. She married 2 time to Ferris E Thompson . In 1957 in Fenwick. Michigan

Favorite

Daniel Pinna

9.03k+ favorites

07/20/2023

Grandma and me at dinner

Taken in 2010. I believe we were at Maggiano's at Santa Row in San Jose.

Date & Place: 2010 at Santana Row 377 Santana Row, in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California 95128, United States

Comments

Dr.Rosemarie E. Till Ph.D'S

904 favorites

07/26/2023

What a beautiful picture of the both of you. Great Memories.

Favorite (2)

Mj Benning

187 favorites

04/11/2006

Unhappy Daniel

Daniel at his 2nd birthday...not too happy. From left-right: Kathy, Pam, Me, Daniel and my mother, Connie Tasker Benning D'Albert.

Date & Place: 1983

Comments

Daniel Pinna

9.03k+ favorites

01/07/2021

Why in the world do I look so upset around all those smiling faces?

Favorite

Kathy Pinna

195 followers 29.6k+ favorites

01/08/2021

It was a long day . . . this was your second party (after a first at Nanny's). You were tired in that little 2 yr old body! :) I can't remember who took the picture??

Favorite

Mj Benning

187 favorites

01/01/2001

Heine Barrett with wife & step-daughter

Heine, father of Chuck Barrett, with his step-daughter, Joyce, his wife, Connie Tasker Benning Barrett, and his mother-in-law, Mary Ann Jones Tasker. Joyce was pregnant with her first child, daughter Kathy.

Date & Place: September 17, 1949

Comments

Daniel Pinna

9.03k+ favorites

09/14/2023

Such a great photo! Uncle Chuck looked so much like his father.

Favorite

Kathy Pinna

195 followers 29.6k+ favorites

09/14/2023

Uncle Chuck was a carbon copy of his father it’s uncanny! And yes, a photo of my mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, all in one photo. AND the Lorraine apartments - old San Jose- which the Sunseri’s owned. So much history in one photo!

Favorite

Loading...one moment please

- See how biographies work.

+21 other followers

Did you know?

In 1930, in the year that Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch was born, as head of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, William Hays established a code of decency that outlined what was acceptable in films. The public - and government - had felt that films in the '20's had become increasingly risque and that the behavior of its stars was becoming scandalous. Laws were being passed. In response, the heads of the movie studios adopted a voluntary "code", hoping to head off legislation. The first part of the code prohibited "lowering the moral standards of those who see it", called for depictions of the "correct standards of life", and forbade a picture from showing any sort of ridicule towards a law or "creating sympathy for its violation". The second part dealt with particular behavior in film such as homosexuality, the use of specific curse words, and miscegenation.

Did you know?

In 1954, when she was 24 years old, on May 17th, the Supreme Court released a decision on Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. The ruling stated that state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students was unconstitutional thus paving the way for integration in schools.

ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM

Find records of Marian Kroetch

Birth records

Marriage records

Divorce records

Death records

Find records of Marian

Marian Benning's Family Tree & Friends

Marian Benning's Family Tree

George Lawrence Benning Apr 21, 1898 - Aug 23, 1946

Eileen Constance (Tasker) Benning Feb 2, 1908 - Jan 28, 1987

Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch Oct 11, 1930 - Sep 10, 2017

Partner

Child

Sibling

Marriage

Frank Kroetch

Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch

March 26, 1949

Marriage date

Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington United States

Marriage location

Divorce

Cause of Separation

July 1968

Divorce date

Sandpoint, Bonner County, Idaho, 83864 United States

Divorce location

ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM

View marriage records

Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch Oct 11, 1930 - Sep 10, 2017

Frank Kroetch Mar 25, 1927 - Jul 12, 2001

Child

Pam (Kroetch) Marks born Jan 1951

Kathleen Rae (Kroetch) Pinna born 1949

Marriage

Jack Wendell Vandever

Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch

November 28, 1969

Marriage date

Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, California United States

Marriage location

Divorce

Cause of Separation

1974

Divorce date

San Jose, Santa Clara County, California United States

Divorce location

ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM

View marriage records

Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch Oct 11, 1930 - Sep 10, 2017

Jack Wendell Vandever born May 1936

Child

Friendships

Marian's Friends

Beverly Clarice (Washington) Scoffone Los Gatos, California, United States Aug 1930 - Dec 6, 2022

Beverly Clarice (Washington) Scoffone of Rinconada Hills in Los Gatos, Santa Clara County, California 95030, United States was born in August 1930 in Montana United States, and had a brother Dennis R Washington. She was married to Al Scoffone on November 28, 1948 in Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, CA, and they were together until Aldo's death on March 6, 2006. Beverly Scoffone died at age 92 years old on December 6, 2022 at Rinconada Hills in Los Gatos, Santa Clara County, California 95032, United States, and was buried at Madronia Cemetery 14766 Oak St, in Saratoga, Santa Clara County, California 95070, United States.

Favorite

followers

Al Scoffone Monte Sereno, California, United States 1924 - Mar 6, 2006

Aldo Scoffone of 15722 Lancaster Rd, in Monte Sereno, Santa Clara County, California United States was born in 1924 in Cupertino to Gus Scoffone and Eugenia Mellano. He had a brother Ray Scoffone. He married Beverly Clarice (Washington) Scoffone on November 28, 1948 in Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, CA, and they were married until Aldo's death on March 6, 2006. Aldo Scoffone was buried at Madronia Cemetery in Saratoga.

Favorite

followers

Charles Henry Barrett Jr. Apr 16, 1928 - Apr 29, 2009

Charles Henry Barrett Jr. was born on April 16, 1928 in Missoula, Missoula County, Montana United States to Charles Henry "Heine" Barrett and Ann Barrett. He was in a relationship with Maryalys Barrett, and had children Mark Barrett, Susan Barrett, Stacy Barrett, and Greg Barrett. Charles Barrett died at age 81 years old on April 29, 2009 in Campbell, Santa Clara County, CA, and was buried on May 6, 2009 at Oak Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park in San Jose. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Charles Henry Barrett Jr..

Favorite

followers

Dennis R Washington Missoula, Montana, United States born 1934

Dennis R Washington of Missoula, Missoula County, Montana United States was born in 1934 in Spokane, Spokane County, WA, and has a sister Beverly Clarice (Washington) Scoffone. Dennis Washington was married to Phyllis Washington in 1964, and has children Kyle Washington and Kevin Washington. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Dennis R Washington.

Favorite

followers

26 Followers & Sources

227 favorites 21 photos

Gracia Lionardi

I am the lead developer at AncientFaces.com and I keep myself busy doing just that!
I live in Indonesia with my husband and wonderful little dog.

Favorite (9)

Message

602 favorites 29 photos

Daniel Pinna

I'm the creator of AncientFaces which we began in 2000 while I was a sophomore at Santa Clara University. To our amazing friends and super active members - thank you for your support & patience as we've slowly but surely evolved AncientFaces into the place where our loved ones live on through our memories. This particular account is for my personal interests. Feel free to reach out and say hi!
One of my more colorful (ahem black sheep) relatives was one of the first to be hanged for criminal punishment in the U.S.

Favorite (19)

Message

29.6k+ favorites 1.92k+ photos

Kathy Pinna

I'm a Founder of AncientFaces and support the community answering questions & helping members make connections to the past (thus my official title of Founder & Content and Community Support ). For me, it's been a labor of love for over 20 years. I truly believe with all of my heart that everyone should be remembered for generations to come. I am 2nd generation San Jose and have seen a lot of changes in the area while growing up. We used to be known as the "Valley of Heart's Delight" (because the Valley was covered with orchards and there were many canneries to process the food grown here, which shipped all over the US) - now we have adopted the nickname "Capital of Silicon Valley" and Apple, Ebay, Adobe, Netflix, Facebook, and many more tech companies are within a few miles of my current home in San Jose (including AncientFaces). From a small town of 25,000, we have grown to 1 million plus. And when you add in all of the communities surrounding us (for instance, Saratoga, where I attended high school, living a block from our previous Mayor), we are truly one of the big cities in the US. I am so very proud of my hometown. For more information see Kathy - Founder & Content and Community Director
My family began AncientFaces because we believe that unique photos and stories that show who people are/were should be shared with the world.

Favorite (195)

Message

9.03k+ favorites 1.36k+ photos

Daniel Pinna

I want to build a place where my son can meet his great-grandparents. My grandmother Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch always wanted to meet her great-grandchildren, but she died just a handful of years before my son's birth. So while she didn't have the opportunity to meet him, at least he will be able to know her. For more information about what we're building see About AncientFaces. For information on the folks who build and support the community see Daniel - Founder & Creator.
My father's side is full blood Sicilian and my mother's side is a combination of Welsh, Scottish, German and a few other European cultures. One of my more colorful (ahem black sheep) family members came over on the Mayflower. He was among the first to be hanged in the New World for a criminal offense he made while onboard the ship.

Favorite (203)

Message

2.74k+ favorites 1.12k+ photos

Kathy Pinna

I am researching Tasker, Jones, Bowen, Rees of Wales; Kroetch, Chartrand of Canada; and Boggs, Ferguson, Smith, of West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky. Also Steeples of Kansas. And on my mother's New England roots - well, too numerous to name since she descends from Mayflower passengers as well as Dutch East India captains who arrived with their families before the Mayflower landed further north than was planned. :)
I'm a Founder of AncientFaces and support the community answering questions & helping members make connections to the past (thus my official title of Founder & Content and Community Director). For me, it's been a labor of love for over 20 years. I truly believe with all of my heart that everyone should be remembered for generations to come. I am 2nd generation San Jose and have seen a lot of changes in the area while growing up. We used to be known as the "Valley of Heart's Delight" (because the Valley was covered with orchards and there were many canneries to process the food grown here, which shipped all over the US) - now we have adopted the nickname "Capital of Silicon Valley" and Apple, Ebay, Adobe, Netflix, Facebook, and many more tech companies are within a few miles of my current home in Campbell (including AncientFaces). From a small town of 25,000, we have grown to 1 million plus. And when you add in all of the communities surrounding us (for instance, Saratoga, where I attended high school, living a block from our current Mayor), we are truly one of the big cities in the US. I am so very proud of my hometown. For more information see Kathy - Founder & Content and Community Director

Favorite (12)

Message

753 favorites 633 photos

Daniel Pinna

I am interested in the last names Pinna, Benning, Kroetsch, Finazzo, and Kroetch.
My family pays a lot of attention to the past which heavily influenced us to start AncientFaces.

Favorite (7)

Message

ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM

Find records of Marian Kroetch

Birth records

Marriage records

Divorce records

Death records

Find records of Marian