Bernard J. “Ben” Wiltzius, age 94, of 520 Michigan Avenue; Gladstone, passed away on Wednesday, Apeil 23rd, 2008 at Marquette General Hospital
Ben was born May 8th, 1913 in Gladstone the son of Matt and Nettie (Frykova) Wiltzius and attended All Saints Parochial School in Gladstone. He relocated to the Faithorn area in his early teens where he worked for the Harder family business and attended school in Faithorn and Norway. Ben later worked at Nicholson Dairy in Hermansville. In 1941, he entered the U.S. Army serving in the Pacific Theater and was part of the South Philippines Liberation Campaign at Luzon, where received several medals of honor.
After his honorable discharge, Ben returned to Gladstone and married the charm of his life, the former Alice Quinn, on October31st, 1946 at All Saints Church in Gladstone. Ben was employed for “Coleman Nee” and “Ellingson MacLean Oil Co.” as a coal and fuel truck driver until he retired in 1978 and continued to work for the company on a part-time basis after his retirement.
Ben was a member of All Saints Church where he served as an usher, a member of the Gladstone American Legion August Mattson Post #71, Escanaba teamsters Union, and the Bay de Noc Ostomy Organization.
Ben thoroughly enjoyed spending time in the outdoors, at his camp, cutting firewood and brush. In his early days, he was a fine softball pitcher, and enjoyed bowling and golf. Ben was also an avid sports fan, especially of the Chicago Bears, New York Yankees, and local high school sports. He was always a physically active person and had a sense of humor that all appreciated. With all of this, he still made time for what was most important to him, faith and family. Ben was a wonderful husband and father who was especially fond of his grandchildren. Family and friends remember him as a hard-working and humble man who will be missed by all who knew him.
In addition to his wife of 62 years, Alice, Ben Wilttzius’s survivors include:
2 Sons- Bernard (Sandy) Wiltzius, Jr. of Gladstone, Andrew (Brenda) Wiltzius of Kingsford
4 Daughters- Margaret “Peggy” Wiltzius of Gladstone, Becky (Bob) McCormick of Mason, MI, Sue (Russ) Sargent of Washburn, WI, Toni Valiquette of Escanaba
Sister-in-law; Betty Wiltzius of Marquette
18 Grandchildren- Matt, Dan Jeff, Curt Wiltzius and Dinah Gerard; Molly, Maria, and Mitch, Wiltzius; Sarah Shepard, Jessica Robbins, and Matt and Mike McCormick; Kyle, Benjamin, and Elizabeth Sargent; Nick Valiquette and Katie Trombley.
3 great-grandchildren: Allison, Keegan, and Conner;
and by nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Ben was preceded in death by a brother; Clarence “Boots” Wiltzius, two sisters; Helen and Margaret Wiltzius and by a granddaughter, Marla Wiltzius. He was also preceded in death by cousins, Irene Harder and Betty Ropele, whom he lived with on the family farm for a number of years.
The family of Ben Wiltzius will receive friends of Monday at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone from 2:30 p.m. EDT to 5:30 p.m. EDT. Due to construction at All saints Church, Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the First Lutheran Church in Gladstone at 6:00 p.m. with Rev. Fr. Arnold Grambow officiating. Luncheon will follow in the First Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall. Burial will be in the Fernwood Cemetery; Gladstone. The Wiltzius family respectfully requests memorials in Ben’s memory be directed to the “All Saints Church Elevator Fund.” Envelopes will be available at the Skradski-Boyce Funeral Homes of Delta County who are assisting the Wiltzius family.
