Benedict Ramutis Zemaitis

He was born on March 13, 1933, in Lithuania, the son of Pius and Janina Zemaitis.

During WWII, Ben first immigrated to Germany in 1944 with his parents and attended Eichstaet High School. Ben later immigrated to America, arriving in Chicago, IL in 1949.

Upon graduation in 1956 from University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana with a bachelor’s degree in Management, Ben married Vita J. Zubkus. After completing military service with the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, he continued his education at the Roosevelt University in Chicago, graduating with a master’s degree in Accountancy. Additional professional development included achieving Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designations.

During his professional career, Ben held various financial, operating, and auditing management positions in the private sector and government. In 1980, he was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel, for “excelling in many fields of endeavor”. Prior to retirement in 1999, he had been serving as Chief Internal Auditor with the Illinois Department of Revenue. Ben was also an adjunct professor at University of Illinois in Springfield, teaching accounting, auditing, and internal auditing courses in the graduate school for approximately 10 years. He was licensed to practice as Public Accountant in Illinois.

He was an active member of the Institute of Internal Auditors, having chaired several international committees. While visiting Lithuania in 1999, Ben was reacquainted with newly elected President, Valdas Adamkus, and worked pro bono as a consultant with the Lithuanian comptroller general. Ben organized a training course for government auditors, which earned him a medal. During 1999-2000, Ben helped establish the Performance Audit Program for the Republic of Lithuania. Ben was also a member of St. Joseph the Worker and the American Lithuanian Club of Springfield for many years.

Ben was preceded in death by his parents; son, Darius in 1985; and first wife, Vita, in 2009.

He is survived by his second wife, Grazina Zemaitis of Chatham; and numerous cousins and nephews in the USA, Canada, and Lithuania.

Cremation was provided by Butler Cremation Tribute Center.

Memorial Gathering and Funeral Mass: Family will receive friends from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 700 E. Spruce St., Chatham, IL, followed by Mass at 11:00 a.m., with Rev. Joseph Molloy officiating. Burial will follow at Rochester Cemetery with military honors.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Lithuanian Foundation, Inc., 14911 127th St., Lemont, IL 60439 www.lithuanianfoundation.org or Prairie Heart Foundation of Springfield.

The family is being served by Butler Funeral Home – Springfield, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield, IL.