Benjamin Robert "Ben" Leon

"He had a heart of gold" and "he was a kind and talented soul" are just a few of the many things people had to say about Ben. You might get a call from him and he would say "Ben Leon here. You remember me!" Sometimes you would hear his booming voice or his deep belly laugh. At other times he would just stand patiently and look at you. No words needed. His presence spoke volumes. He was a gentle giant and had a quick wit about him. His zodiac sign was Cancer the Crab, and it suited him; hard on the outside, soft on the inside. Some people initially didn't know how to take his sense of humor. Ben was a very private man and pretty much kept to himself – except of course when it came to music. His biggest dream was to be able to play in a great band that people loved to dance to. I'm glad that his dream came true.
Ben's passion for music made him larger than life. He was a musician at heart. And a damn good one. His personalized license plates said it all. "B JAMIN". He started playing piano at a young age by listening to Color My World and picking out the notes on the old family piano; it became his mainstay throughout life. Ben was always involved in music one way or another. He always joked that he was a "jack of all instruments, but master of none". I think the only instrument that he couldn't conquer was the bagpipes. His favorite instrument of all times though was the saxophone – yes, he was a closet saxophonist. He fell in love with the beauty of its sound.
Love. Ben met Shirl through their work in the Elmbrook School District. A love of music first ignited their friendship. Then they became "work partners" through budgets and student activities. Eventually sparks flew and a dynamic relationship developed between them, making them life partners. Ben is survived by Shirl, loving friends Kyle and Ryan (Dana) who will miss the bantering and quick wit they were privileged to have shared with him. We will miss the days when we would come home and hear him playing the piano through the open windows. He is also survived by his loving sisters Caroline and Rachel, brother Raul (Connie), niece Yolanda, nephew Jacob (Brittney) and their sons Joaquin and Rhys who hopefully will carry on the Leon family name for generations to come. He was preceded in death by his parents Ausencio and Evangelina, Uncle Baltasar, baby sister Caroline, and brother Mario Leon Private First Class F Company, 2nd Batallion, 9th Marines, United States Marine Corps. Ben was very proud of Mario and the many lives he saved, ultimately sacrificing his own for them. And of course we can't forget other family members not listed above, Ben's bandmates, colleagues, friends, and the special people in his life who know who they are.
Ben was many things and he wore many hats. Literally. He enjoyed collecting hats and wearing them at gigs. Ben was always a dog loving man but became smitten with cats in his later years. I'm sure he's thrilled to be reunited with his furbuddies Pancho, Chato, PJ and Lightning, but he is being fiercely missed by his beloved gato Chester. Ben was also an enthusiastic motorcyclist. After his first wipeout he learned of road rash and quickly donned the gear. He always rode with a bit of fear sitting on his shoulder to keep him safe. Ben loved the comedy of Monty Python, he loved hawks and eagles, believing that spotting them meant good luck would follow. He collected old Captain Action figures, had gotten his bartending license in his twenties, enjoyed his foot-high chocolate bunny ears at Easter, and he loved life.
Ben also enjoyed travel. He had the unique opportunity to spend a month in Peru and celebrated his 50th birthday with Karaoke and new friends. He and Shirl adventured and traveled whenever they could, crossing off bucket list sites such as Washington D.C., numerous National Parks out west, New Jersey (just to walk in the Atlantic Ocean), and a Mission Trip to Guatemala just to name a few. But when it truly came down to it, his heart belonged in Door County. His remains will be scattered there.
Along with the many hats came the many bands that Ben played in. Ben was multi-genre talented in his music abilities. His group Montage is a disco funk band that may seem out of place for Ben's style, but it was his baby. He always said he was privileged to play with such a great group of talented musicians that worked succinctly together to give the audience a great groove to dance to. And offstage, they were some of the best friends Ben could ever have hoped for. Shifting gears in another direction, Ben also played with the 60's band known as Nostalgia. They are another fun group that Ben enjoyed playing with and he developed even more new friendships with this group. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention some of his other past groups as well:
The Jammer's, Swing Explosion, Jazz Express, One More Time, New Horizons (including his band camp friends where he stepped away from his keys/synths to hone his skills at sax, clarinet, and flute), New Dog Trick, CIA2, his accordion club, and many many more. He also performed in many Praise Bands throughout Southeastern Wisconsin. Ben helped create a traveling intergenerational musical ministry called, "Jubilee." Dozens of children and adults would provide choreographed dance, puppetry, songs, testimony, and drama for communities, nursing homes and churches. Ben was an excellent actor and inspirational musician. He drew many people closer to God through his inspiring music. Ben led a Mariachi group called Mariachi de Trinidad which reached out to many communities, striving to bring a variety of cultures together through good music with a spiritual emphasis. Ben's expertise on the keyboards had been recorded and so he is still accompanying church groups with his talent. He continues to play on. Ben was also one of the founding Directors of WIO – The Wisconsin Intergenerational Orchestra and worked with younger players as well as adults who wanted to play their instrument again. With all of these groups, it's no wonder that Ben retired from his teaching career. He didn't have time to work!
Ben retired after 26 years in the Elmbrook School District. He was a middle school orchestra director whose passion for teaching music to students was undeniable. He knew how to reach his students. He brought in tunes that they could relate to. He challenged their skills and held them accountable. Ben created a Mariachi group here as well with a number of his orchestra students and was blessed to have them perform at various venues including the Mexican Senior Center on the south side of Milwaukee where he grew up. Ben felt the need to honor his Mexican heritage in this way and give back to his community. He wanted the group to be authentic so he brought in the guitarron, trumpets, and various other instruments; his mom assisted by sewing the man s as part of their costumes. He also would bring small string groups to senior centers and nursing homes over the holidays to perform for the residents. Some students were even privileged to play the National Anthem at several Milwaukee Bucks games. I'm not surprised at the number of students who kept in touch with him after graduation. It seemed that almost everywhere we went, Ben would be recognized by a former student. It might take him a minute or two to remember their name, but he would instantly remember which instrument they played.
Ben was proud of his students and always said he was blessed with a great group of kids to work with. He loved sharing his passion for music with them and others. His students and peers knew his door was always open for support, or just to lend an ear. Those attributes were a part of who he was and worked to his advantage when he was a Union Rep. Ben was easy-going, approachable, and driven. People always looked up to Ben for advice or direction. He was dedicated to his craft and would always be on YouTube searching for the next tune to perform or merge into a medley.
He had that rare gift to bring life, energy, and happiness into any room he walked into. He was old school; always holding doors for others and he ALWAYS carried a handkerchief. He touched people's hearts through his music. After all, music is a common language; a language of love. We love you Ben and we will miss you.
Sadness
May Ben's music legacy continue to live on through others.
Visitation will be held at Krause Funeral Home, 12401 West National Avenue, New Berlin, Wisconsin on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Additional Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM at St. Roman Parish, 1710 West Bolivar Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin with Mass to Follow at 11AM.
In lieu of flowers, donations to HAWS or an animal shelter of your choice would be appreciated.
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