Obituary of Joe Benjamin

Daryl Joe Benjamin, 87, of Niles, passed away at The Ernestine M. Raclin House in Mishawaka on Wednesday, December 9, 2020. Joe was born on January 10, 1933, in Niles, Michigan to the late Clarence and Margaret (Cornwall) Benjamin. After graduating from Niles High School in 1952, Daryl was drafted into the United States Army where he served his country proudly in Anchorage, Alaska during the Korean War. His beautiful bride, Zena Joan Brooks waited patiently back home in Michigan for him to complete his service. After many love letters back and forth he returned to Niles and shortly after they wed on September 10, 1955, at Wesley United Methodist Church, recently celebrating their 65th year of marriage. He retired in 1988 from National Standard after 33 years of service. Joe was a beer can collecting enthusiast, amassing well over 3000 beer cans that he proudly displayed alphabetically in his basement. He was a member of the Beer Can Collectors of America and enjoyed traveling throughout the United States to Beer Can Conventions. Joe also enjoyed coaching and for many years coached his son and many other young boys at Pepper Martin Park. He was also a volunteer firefighter for eight years for the Howard Township Fire Department. Joe thoroughly enjoyed music, beginning in high school where he was a member of the marching band, while he wasn’t a recording artist, he loved to pick up a guitar and strum the few cords he knew. His grandchildren were some of his favorite audience members. On Saturday nights, Joe, Joan and their group of family and friends would gather for a few hands of Euchre. Anyone who knew Joe instantly fell in love with him. His kind nature and absolutely wonderful sense of humor will be missed by anyone who had the pleasure of spending time with him. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his siblings; Ruth Wolf, Kay Benjamin, and Ned Benjamin, and his nephew, Guy Benjamin. Joe is survived by his wife, Joan Benjamin; children, Sherry (David) Hinegardner of Niles, Rae Ann (Rick) Lamberton of Niles, and Dennis (Sue) Benjamin also of Niles. He will also be missed by his grandchildren; Ashley, David, Brittany, Hillary, Joey, and Rachel, ten great-grandchildren; siblings, Roy Benjamin of Buchanan, his sister-in-law, Mickey Benjamin, and a host of nieces and nephews and friends. Funeral services to honor Joe will be Wednesday, December 16, 2020, at 1 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home with a time of visitation beginning two hours prior. Committal service will follow at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens with full military honors. Those wishing to make a memorial donation in honor of Joe have been asked to consider New Journey Methodist Church 302 Cedar St, Niles, MI 49120 or The Ernestine M. Raclin Home 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545.