Ben Evert Juliusson

1928 - 2018

Ben Evert Juliusson
DUNLAP - Ben Evert Juliusson, 89, of Washington, IL, passed away peacefully at approximately 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2018, at Reflections Memory Care of Washington, IL. He was formerly of Dunlap, IL. Death was attributed to natural causes.
He was born at home on November 23, 1928, in Cuba, IL, to John and Anna Pierson Juliusson, the third child of Swedish immigrants who came to America in 1921. He married Bessie Violet Jacobson on June 24, 1951, in Peoria.
Two sons, Steven (Anne) Juliusson of Winnetka, Illinois, and Timothy Juliusson of Chicago; and a granddaughter, Annika Juliusson of Winnetka, survive him.
Ben was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, two sisters, an infant daughter and his wife.
Ben grew up in a family of eight that struggled through the Great Depression. Without the benefit of the type of regular adult supervision today's children often take for granted, he learned to be self-sufficient by hunting, fishing, fixing engines and doing chores on the family farm.
When Ben was ten, the town Postmaster, Fred Burrell and his wife, Ethel, took an ongoing interest in him. They had no children, and he became like a surrogate son. At 16, Ben worked at the Post Office until he graduated from Cuba High School in 1946.
Enlisting in the U.S. Army, he became a PFC and a Marksman. He was deployed to Yokohama and Beppu in occupied Japan and worked in the Army Post Office. After his discharge, he enrolled at Brown's Business College (now Midstate College) in Peoria, while commuting to work part-time at the Cuba Post Office. At Brown's, he met his future wife, Bess, during study hall.
After graduation, he was employed at the Altorfer Brothers Co. (commonly-known as the ABC Washing Machine Co.) in East Peoria in their parts catalog department. Hearing rumors of impending layoffs at ABC, Ben walked across the street during his lunch hour one summer day in 1956 and applied for work at the Caterpillar Tractor Company.
He was hired and remained at Caterpillar for over 35 years, mostly in the Western Service department at Caterpillar's world headquarters building, where he coordinated parts and service requests for Caterpillar dealers across the western United States.
With his wife, Bess, he also co-owned of The Whip ice cream stand in Princeville, IL, between 1968-1971, operating his business as a second job during the summer. In retirement, he remained active overseeing and maintaining several rental properties in the Peoria area for his family.
Ben was involved in many social organizations, including serving as Dunlap Village Board secretary, as a Mason in the Alta Lodge and the Masonic Temple in Peoria, as a member of the Prospect United Methodist Church in Dunlap for over 60 years, as well as a member of their choir, and singing with the Ephephatha Choir in Peoria, performing in several European cities in the 1990s. In addition, he sang solos at many weddings, funerals and local functions.
As a blood donor, he regularly "gave at the office," contributing gallons of blood during his time at Cat, and after retiring, became a member of the Caterpillar "Old-Timers" Club. A fan of Dunlap High School sports, Ben was part of the team that "ran the chains," positioning the down marker at DHS home football games for many years.
Ben was a loyal, caring and dependable husband and father. He had a wide circle of friends and a knack for striking up friendships with people from all walks of life. He was funny, sentimental, irreverent and an outside-the-box thinker. He loved babies, old people and cherry pie. Both an extrovert and a private person, Ben was a dichotomy, a dreamer who could also see the big picture in practical terms.
Ben enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, reading, barbecuing, and maintaining his home, garden, yard and cars. He loved singing, music, ballroom dancing, sports and travel. He valued his Scandinavian heritage and visited his relatives near Malmo, Sweden, five times between 1972 to 2006 and called and corresponded with them often.
Visitation for Ben will be Wednesday, January 10, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Prospect United Methodist Church, 300 E. Ash St., Dunlap. A memorial service will follow at 3 p.m., with graveside services at the Prospect Cemetery in Dunlap. The Rev. Steve Pichaske will officiate. Ben will be buried alongside his wife, Bess; and infant daughter, Kathy.
Haskell-Hott Funeral Homes in Princeville is in charge of arrangements.
A memorial video for Ben can be viewed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNBcOy0x5Nk.
Memorials may be made to Prospect United Methodist Church in Ben's memory.
To express condolences online, visit www.haskellhott.com.