David Benkowski

1932 - 2018

David Benkowski

Green Bay - David "Dave" Benkowski left this earth peacefully on May 19th, 2018 surrounded by his wife and family.

Dave was born August 22, 1932 in Wisconsin Rapids to Myra (Fogarty) and Frank Benkowski. He graduated from Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School in 1950. He excelled in football, basketball and baseball and was inducted into the Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School Hall of Fame in 2005. Dave attended St. Mary's College in Winona, MN. In 1951, he was drafted and proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He trained at Fort (Camp) Gordon in Georgia as a radio specialist/Morse Code translator and served in Germany. After an honorary discharge, he returned to St. Mary's, earned his degree and also played football and baseball.

After college, Dave returned to Wisconsin Rapids and he joined his brother, John, at Eatmore Products, a company started by their father, Frank. On July 7, 1962, Dave married Judy Cepek in Algoma. In 1965, they moved to Green Bay and Dave started Benkowski Distributing, as an Anheuser-Busch distributor. At the time, he was the youngest sole proprietor of a distributorship in the United States. Dave continued to work and use his business acumen until the time of his retirement at the age of 81. He was a successful businessman and was well respected by all who had the pleasure of working with him throughout his life.

Dave is survived by his loving wife of 56 years Judy and were blessed with six children: Ann and her husband Rich Michels and son Frank (Middleton), Sue and her husband Jay Marti and daughters Julia and Maria (Neenah), Mike and daughters Hanna and Katie (Raleigh, NC), Peter and his wife Christy and daughter Isabelle (Denver, CO), Paul and his wife Jennifer and sons Eli, Soren and Caleb (Luck, WI) and Tom and his wife Tiffany and children Hazel, Symone and Auggie (De Pere).

Dave loved watching and encouraging his children and grandchildren as they participated in sports, dance and school activities. Dave remained active in sports throughout his life. He played softball until he was 74 years old, downhill skied until the age of 82, worked out regularly at Bellin Health Club and played golf. He was the athletic director at St. Agnes Grade School for many years and volunteered for many fundraising activities. Dave's Catholic faith was important to him and he was an active member at St Elizabeth Ann Seton Church and helped with meals for the homeless and cleaning the church.

Dave's devotion to family, love of the Chicago Cubs and quick wit will be missed by all who knew him. Dave shares the light of God with his mother Myra, his father Frank, his sister Jane "Sis" Ellis, his brother John, son-in-law Joseph Hessel and daughter-in-law Lisa (Weill) Benkowski.

The family is forever grateful for the loving care he received from Drs. Bertler, Warren, Fuchs and Lemkuill and the exceptional staff at Aurora Baycare, especially Jon, a truly compassionate nurse.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dave's name to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton or Holy Family Grade School.

Visitation and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, 2771 Oakwood Drive, Green, WI. Visitation will begin at 5:00PM Tuesday, with a parish prayer service at 6:30PM. Visitation will continue at the church after 9:00AM Wednesday, until the Mass of Christian burial at 11:00AM concelebrated by Bishop Robert Morneau, Father Willard Vander Loo and Father Paul De Muth; coordinated by Sister Marla. Ryan Funeral Home (www.ryanfh.com) or 920.336.3171 will be assisting the family with final arrangements.