Lyle M. Benzine

Lyle Benzine, 88 of Rio, passed away January 18, 2018 at the Randolph Care Center in Randolph, Wisc.  He was a resident of the Care Center for the past two years as a result of health problems, including Alzheimers.  He was under Hospice Care prior to his death.

Lyle was born on Sept. 14, 1929 to Hilda (Ludwig) and Louis Benzine at their home on Hwy. 16 outside of Otsego.  He was the third of seven children.  He graduated from Columbus High School and on Feb. 18, 1950 he married Oma Brewer of Pardeeville.  They had three children; Linda, Susan and Robert.

While they were raising their family, Sunday afternoons/evenings were spent at his parents home where all the siblings would gather for meals and socializing.  Like many people of their generation they could “cut the rug.” They enjoyed playing cards with many friends and relatives.  Lyle was a good player, but some would argue he was not as good as his brother, Ralph.

Lyle was fortunate to spend the majority of his life in Rio and was well known in the area.  He worked at Kohlweys Plumbing & Heating until retirement.  He served on the Rio Fire Dept. in several positions, including Fire Chief.  As a Fireman, Lyle was a fixture at the annual Fireman’s Picnic.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing.  Lyle and his friends went deer hunting in Iron River on a regular basis.  Those trips resulted in numerous arguments between Bob and Lyle regarding who was the more accurate shooter.  Usually, Bob won that argument.

His two grandsons, Andy and Eric Hall (city kids) often spent a portion of their summer vacation with Oma and Lyle.  The boys were often amazed by the fact that “everyone knows Grandma and Grandpa and they know who we are.” 

Oma and Lyle spent their retirement years traveling, mostly to Louisiana several times a year, to visit their grandsons and great-grandaughter, Chloe.  One of the most memorable trips was to the 1997 Super Bowl in New Orleans.  Back home, Tuesday and Friday nights would find them eating out with Russ & Betty Roberts (and later Vern and Betty Freck) at Trails Lounge.

Lyle kept busy in retirement with yard work, gardening, helping friends and family with repairs and, up until his son Bob died, helping out at Pardeeville Sport Marine.  He and Oma would go fishing with Russ & Betty and “tailgate” while they fished.  In later years, Charlie Holder became his fishing buddy.

He was baptized, confirmed and married in St. John’s Lutheran Church in Doylestown.  He received a Perfect Attendance Pin for Sunday School (which he still has) for grades one through eight.  Through the decades, he served on the Church Council in several positions.

Lyle is survived by his wife of 67 years and 11 months, Oma; daughters and son-in-law Linda and Randy Hall of Baton Rouge, Susan Benzine of Oconomowoc, grandsons; Andy (Jennifer) Hall of Baton Rouge, Dr. Eric (Jennifer) Hall of Ft. Smith, AR and great-grandaughter Chloe (Andy & Jennifer); Sister Ethel Uttech of Beaver Dam; brother, Dick Benzine of Monona, sister-in-laws; Shirley Benzine of Rio, L’Raen Melby of Pardeeville in addition to numerous nieces and nephews.

Lyle joins those celebrating in heaven that preceded him: son Robert (Bob) Benzine; parents Hilda and Louis Benzine; in-laws: Clarence and Irene Brewer; sister Judy Benzine; sister and brother-in-law Joyce and Merlin Reierson; brothers Ralph (Shirley) Benzine and infant brother Kenneth; sisters-in-law Iona (Clifton) Finger and Judy (Dick) Benzine; brothers-in-law Carl (Ethel) Uttech and Robert (Dorothy Brewer Pittman) Brewer; nephew Jim (Ronnie & Debbie) Reierson.

Visitation will be held Friday, January 26, from 5 to 8 PM at Grasse Funeral Home in Rio.  Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 27 at 11 AM at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Doylestown. Rev. David Sternhagen, Waveland, MS, will officiate. Visitation will also be held from 10 AM until the time of service at the church Saturday. Interment will follow at St. Johns Cemetery in Doylestown.  Lunch will be served at the Otsego Town Hall following the service.  Pallbearers will be Dwayne Benzine, Andy Hall, Eric Hall, Randy Hall, Charlie Holder and Ronnie Reierson. 

Memorials may be sent to St. Johns Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 25, Doylestown, WI 53928.  The family would like to thank Joann Evans and staff at Randolph Care Center, Hillside Hospice, and Dr. Sam Pozer for their excellent care.  Thanks also to Shirley Benzine for her faithful weekly visits, Mike Roberts for helping with the yard work the past two years, friends Nora and Charles Holder for their help and visits and all those who spent time with him the past few years.  Special thanks to Pastor James Bolda for all his many visits and prayers prior to his retirement in 2017.  Rev. 2:10 “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life.”

 Service Information