Joseph Benassi

JOSEPH PAUL BENASSI It is with heavy hearts, the family of Joseph Paul Benassi, loving husband, stepfather, grandfather and uncle share of his passing on December 5, 2022. Joseph was 87 years of age. He passed away, surrounded in love by his family, at Viewcrest Health Center in Duluth, Minnesota. Joe was born on May 11, 1935 to Joseph and Rosia (Montetrostelli) Benassi in Gary New Duluth. He grew up in this area and graduated from the Gary New Duluth School District. Joe loved living in Northern Minnesota and the seasons of change it brought. He frequently shared fond memories of his childhood there. Two of his favorite stories included reminiscing about the wooded Duluth hills as his playground adventures. The first story included a surprise find of a young dog with new puppies. He joyfully told this story in great detail which brought him pride, and some concern, as he carried the puppies home in a basket while the mother dog followed along. Joe cared for the puppies, ensuring he found homes for each one. Joe's story had a happy ending as he went on to keep the mother dog and naming her "Woozy." They instantly became lifelong friends. This story captured Joe's love of past memories, his caring personality and storytelling abilities that became common throughout his life. Another favorite included the exploration of the Duluth winter hills and how his sister Helen would ski down one side of the hill then continuing up the other side, repeating this over and over for snow-time fun. He proudly referred to her as a "very good skier!" Joe's seasonal outdoor love never wavered throughout his lifetime. He enjoyed hunting and the hunting shack memories he made with his nephews Paul and David, fishing on Rainy Lake summer days with Olympia and the family, and fishing on Arm's Lake and Long Lake with his brothers and nephews. All adventures came with endless stories and detailed recaps of the great outdoors with both his family and friends. Joe was drafted and served in The United States Army from 1960 to 1964 with an Honorable Discharge. He served at Fort Huachuca, Arizona as an electronics technician. After his discharge, Joe was employed with North American Aviation in California. During his tenure, he proudly worked on the Apollo Antenna System. The Apollo Antenna work was truly one of Joe's favorite memories to share. The career innovation he experienced and engaged in led to many instrumental moments moving the Apollo Antenna System progressively forward. Joe later moved to International Falls, Minnesota after a fishing trip where he found a love for the beauty and outdoors of the Northern Community. He bought Riverside Trailer Court in International Falls and operated the trailer community until his retirement. Joe married Olympia (Coran-Costley) on January 7, 1978. Joe and Olympia were both welcomed into their large loving Italian families. During their 44 years together, Joe and Olympia enjoyed treasured memories of Italian cooking and recipe creations, wild game feeds, family gatherings with homemade pasta, gardening, bird watching and traveling with friends and family. Joe will be deeply missed by his wife Olympia and his family. Joe is survived by his loving wife Olympia Benassi; sister Helen Patten; step-children Lori (Costley) Trompeter, and Len (Mary) Costley; daughter-in-law Janis (Wade) Costley; nephew Paul (Lori) Benassi; brother-in-law Ray Coran; sister-in-law Josephine Benassi; special family members Rob Trompeter and Sue Olson; grandchildren Jeff Trask, Beth (Jerrod) Shermoen, Jason (Brandi) Trask, Victor Costley, Wendy (Brian) Blackman, Paul (Cassie) Costley, Josie (Tim) Anderson and Jed Costley and many loved great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Joe is preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Rosia Benassi; step-daughter Victoria Trask; step-son Wade Costley; step-son-in-law Perry Trask; sister Agnes Benassi; brothers Dominic Benassi, Frank Benassi, Carlo Benassi, and Andrew Benassi; nephew David Benassi; brothers-in-law (Scotty) Leroy Scott, Gene Patten, Dove Coran, Rudy Coran, Ray Edgett, and Rocky Coran; sisters-in-law Dorothy Benassi, Carmel Benassi, Dorothy Coran, Barbara Coran, Toni Edgett, Helen Coran, and Laura Cerutti and Auntie Liza Gasperini. The Benassi family would like to extend immense gratitude to the nurses and staff of Viewcrest Health for their loving care and support given during Joe's stay and passing. A special thank you to the Essentia Hospice Team and the many doctors and nurses of Essentia Health for the outstanding services given to Joe and our family during this time. We are truly grateful and will not forget all that you did. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. Considered memorials can be sent to Joe's beloved communities of International Falls and Duluth: Koochiching County Food Access, 900 5th Street #104, Int'l Falls, MN 56649 or https://kcfoodaccess.org/ or Chum, 125 N 1st Ave W, Duluth, MN 55802 or https://www.chumduluth.org/. If you would like to send a note to Olympia Benassi, c/o Lori Trompeter, 5263 Twin Pines Street, Hermantown, MN 55811. On behalf of the Joe Benassi family we want to extend our deepest gratitude for the phone calls, texts, messages, visits, and cards with your thoughts, prayers and love for our mom and family. "Like a bird singing in the rain, let grateful memories survive in time of sorrow." ~Robert L. Stevenson