Paul Benko

Haslett, MI

Paul Benko, age 93, died April 12, 2012. He was born December 26, 1918 to Maria Hauptman and Franz Benko in Donje Kusonje, Yugoslavia.

He married Anna Kohler on February 5, 1948 in Frankenburg, Austria. He worked in the coal mines near Frankenburg until 1957 when he, Anna and his three daughters immigrated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He believed it was a privilege to move to America, waited 2 years for a Visa and was hired by Usinger’s Sausage Co. where he worked for 25 years. He received a Christmas package every Christmas from Usinger’s. He was also a trained carpenter and worked extra jobs so that by 3 years later he bought his first house. He continued to work hard to provide for his family and move up in the American dream. His dream was for his children to be educated as he never was able to reach beyond grammar school. He knew education was the key. He loved gardening and watching John Wayne movies. Paul had a dry sense of humor and was very social from work through retirement. He loved the Croatian picnics and watching soccer at Schwakenhof in Brookfield, WI. He also loved cinnamon rolls and shopping at Meijers with his son-in-law, Stan.

In his 80’s, he and his wife moved to Haslett, MI to be closer to one of his daughters. He had an adventurous soul and enjoyed outings and traveling in MI as long as possible.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents and 6 siblings. Surviving are his wife, Anna; daughters Hilda (Stan) Meyer, Anna (Robert Hannon) Martin of St. Louis, MO, and Maria (Warren) Kisting of Sandpoint, ID.

He has 6 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

A Funeral Mass will be held 11 a.m. Friday, April 20, 2012, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 955 Alton Road, East Lansing, MI. The family will receive friends at the church from 10 – 11:00 a.m. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Milwaukee, WI at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Okemos Health & Rehabilitation, 5211 Marsh Road, Okemos, MI 48864, or McLaren Visiting Nurse & Hospice, 2136 S. Cedar, Suite 600, Lansing, MI 48910. The family wants to extend special thanks to all the tremendous staff but especially to the Great Lakes Wing and his beloved caretakers. On line condolences may be made at www.greastlansing.com