Ernest Joseph Bensler Jr.

Ernest Joseph Bensler Jr. passed away on Thursday, August 19, 2020. His preferred name was Joe. He was born in Oak Park, IL November 11, 1934 and moved with his family to Tenafly, New Jersey when he was a teenager.

After a year of college, he enlisted in the US Air Force, serving his country as a fighter pilot at the end of the Korean War and the beginning of the Vietnam War. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Babson College, MA and went on to work for McKinsey & Company and Citi Corp in New York, finally relocating to CA where he owned his own business, Energen Products Inc. for 40 years.

Joe was very proud of the military service and spent time with fellow servicemen at the local VFW through the years.

His 30-year marriage to Patricia Heydlauff was one of the highlights of his life as they both loved traveling abroad and cruising with cousins as well as spending time with his children and grandchildren. Together they also enjoyed lots of fun at Disneyland and Disney World, with or without the children and grandchildren. The words that are spoken regularly about Joe is “what a great sense of humor he had. He loved to tease the grandchildren and laugh boisterously.”

Joe is survived by his beloved wife, Pat, Kristine Boyle, daughter, Heidi Espino, daughter, (Tony Espino/husband) Lorna West, daughter (Gregory West/husband) Benjamin Heydlauff, son (Bernarda Frias/wife), Richard Bensler, brother (Jane/wife) and is lovingly remembered in the hearts of eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

He has been preceded in death by his brother William Bensler.

A visitation will be held Wednesday, August 26 at Aycock-Riverside Funeral & Cremation Center, 1112 Military Trail, Jupiter, FL 33458 from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm. And Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 27, at 11:00 am at the funeral home. Donations may be made to the Salvation Army to honor Joe.