Frank and Mary (Wolf) Benz welcomed Br. Earl Benz, OFM, into the world on November 14, 1929, in rural Quincy, Illinois. He was given the name Robert during his baptism. He had an older brother named Albert (Ab) and an older sister named Hilda. Robert attended the local St. Anthony Catholic School for eight years while growing up on the family farm. After graduating, he assisted with the family farm’s transition from horses to tractors and the start of a dairy before being recruited into the US Army on March 3, 1951, as part of the Korean Police Action. As part of the 28th Division Occupation Commitment following World War II, he spent 14 months in Germany rather than Korea.Robert resumed to his job on the family farm after being released on March 4, 1953, until he felt called to become a Franciscan monk. He became a Franciscan and made his III Order profession on May 17, 1955. He then started working as a member of the building team for the St. Paschal’s Brothers School in Oak Brook, Illinois. “Even though I loved the farm,” he continued, “I never looked back.” I knew I would live here for the rest of my life after the first week. Lord, send me wherever you think I can be of assistance.Robert Benz was given the religious name Earl when he enrolled in the Franciscan novitiate in Teutopolis, Illinois, on June 21, 1958. Following his initial career, Br. Earl briefly lived in Cleveland, Ohio, before returning to Oak Brook, Illinois, and the location of his brother’s school. He was primarily in charge of the carpenter shop, where he taught several future brothers how to make furniture for the province, including tables and chairs. For the next thirty-two years, he continued to serve in various administrative capacities at St. Paschal’s. He then spent another twenty-seven years as the administrator of a senior citizen facility in Texas, the maintenance supervisor of an outreach center in Chicago, Illinois, and the caregiver for retired friars in Sherman, Illinois. In his own words: Working in the Lord’s vineyard has been amazing. In 2018, Br. Earl spent his last seven years in Blessed Giles Friary, a Franciscan retirement community in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. He died early on June 26, 2025, after his health had deteriorated over the previous few months.Along with innumerable family members and other Franciscan friars, Br. Earl’s parents, Frank and Mary, brother, Ab, sister, Hilda, and Ab’s wife, Marjorie, all passed away before him. In addition to other family members and fellow Franciscans, he is survived by a nephew named Charles Benz, his wife Christi, and their four children: Samantha, Jessica (Taylor) Brown, Max, and Alexandra; a niece named Geri Ann Black, her two sons, Kris and Zach (Ally) Weaver, and her husband Trenton; two great-great nephews, Wyatt and Eli Brown.The workers at Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice in Sheboygan Falls, WI, as well as Br. Earl’s caretakers at Blessed Giles Friary, are both appreciated by the friars.On June 27, his fellow Franciscans will assemble at the Pfeffer Funeral Home in Manitowoc, WI, for a final farewell with Br. Earl and a prayer service. On Wednesday, July 2, at 11 a.m., a memorial service will be held at the chapel of Blessed Giles Friary, located at 1820 Grand Avenue in Manitowoc, following his cremation. He will be buried in the Frank Benz family plot at the parish cemetery after his cremains are transported to Quincy, IL for a last funeral Mass on Saturday, July 5th at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 2223 St. Anthony Road, Quincy, IL 62305.We kindly ask that you think about contributing to the ongoing care of our retired Franciscan brothers and priests in honor of Br. Earl Benz, OFM. We would be very grateful for any donation. For the benefit of Blessed Giles Friary, please send your charitable donation to Franciscan Friars of Missouri at 3140 Meramec Street, St. Louis, MO 63118. Attention: Office of Finance. God bless you!The friars are receiving funeral assistance from the Lakeshore Family Funeral Home, Pfeffer location, Manitowoc, WI. Please visit https://www.lakeshorefamilyfuneralhomes.com/obituary/BrEarlBenzOFM to send condolences online.
