It is with great sadness that the family of Michael “Mike” Benoit announces his passing on July 2, 2025 at the age of 69. Mike was born in Joliet, IL February 05, 1956 and raised in Peotone, IL until 1970 when his parents moved to Walker, MN to own and run Northland Lodge resort. Mike graduated from Walker Hackensack High School in 1974.
Mike is survived by his mother, Lois VanderWeyst; loving wife of 45 years, Shari (nee Nichols); Children, Dustin (Heather) Benoit and Michaela (Jason) Kunkel; Grandchildren, Andrew (Liberty), Austin and Cody Benoit, Karlee Kunkel and Lucas Downing; and a beautiful Great Grandchild, Christopher James “CJ” Benoit; brother Doug and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Mike is also survived by his loyal furbaby, Buddy.
Mike was preceded in death by his father, Gerald; brothers, Kurt and infant baby brother; and sister, Susan.
Mike was an avid hunter and fisherman spending many years taking the family on annual trips to explore the fishing waters of Northern Minnesota and Canada. He also bought hunting land and along with his wife, family and friends, cleared the land and built a small cabin for treks to the great north for hunting and more fishing of the area lakes.
On September 11, 2006, Mike suffered a life altering catastrophic injury leaving him a C3-5 quadriplegic and unable to move from his neck down. Despite his severe disability, Mike lived a life full of fun, family and friends. He took many trips all over the country with his wife and he was able to hunt and fish with the help of adaptive equipment. He loved to pontoon the waters near his cabin and hunted successfully taking a deer by bow and rifle before and after the accident. Mike had an extensive crew of caregivers who helped out over the years and a few of his “special girls” were able to assist in getting him out trail riding in an ATV that was adapted for him. Nothing held him back from having as much fun as possible.
Mike had several challenges the past few years with increasing hospital visits, plus having to acquire a new healthcare agency to provide more specialized services. The family wants to thank his healthcare agency, BrightStar Care of Maple Grove and Andover for their dedication to his needs and fulfilling all his requests these past few years. His nurses and caregivers helped Mike, Shari and family to have the best possible quality of life. The family would also like to thank the staff of Gearhart Funeral Home for their care of Mike as he continues on in his journey.
The family is honoring Mike’s love for the outdoors with a tree planting in his memory near his hunting “shack" in Nevis, MN. A burial in the family plot will be at the Peotone Cemetery, Peotone, IL at a later date. In lieu of flowers please consider a monetary donation to Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation at https://www.christopherreeve.org/ or a spinal cord injury foundation of your choice in Mike’s memory.
