Robert Lee BENSON Sr., age 89, of Antioch, Tennessee passed away on Friday, March 18, 2022 at The Bridge Nursing Home.
Robert was born on April 8, 1932 in Appleton, WI during the Great Depression. His father changed jobs frequently and didn't spend much time with his family. They lived in several places before he was 4 years old, Chicago, IL, Rockford, IL, and Madison, WI. In 1938, his father left them, and his parents divorced a year later. They had already spent a great deal of time staying at his grandparents farm (Harry & Nellie "Donohue" Hanson), and made their home there until Juanita could afford her own place. Later they moved to a new house on West Second Street in Appleton.
In 1950 he joined the U.S. Army to serve his country during the Korean War conflict. Robert spent five months of his service in a combat zone until it was discovered that he was the sole surviving son of his family. According to Section 6(o) of the Military Selective Service Act of 1948, sole surviving sons were not to be in combat zones, so he was transferred to Japan where he finished his service time in the Military Police.
Following military service, he got his pilots license and did three solo flights when small planes had a floor stick to steer.
In 1952 he took a job with Intercity Coach Lines (city bus) in Appleton, WI, where he met his future bride, Bonnie Jury who worked at the Woolworth's store on his route. When Bonnie rode the bus, he made sure to never charge her the 10-cent fare. They were married on June 30, 1955, at St. John's Catholic church in Little Chute, WI.
One year later, Robert then took a job driving for Greyhound Bus in Appleton. In 1959 he moved his wife and two daughters, Judy and Ellen, to the Racine area where he built a new home. Later, for a short time, he drove truck for American Motors and Schwerman. In 1968 he began his 29-year career with Consolidated Freightways. In 1980, he was transferred to Lexington, KY and then again in 1982 to Nashville, TN where he finished his driving career in 1997 with 3,000,001 safe driving miles. The CEO for Consolidated Freightways came from California to present him with the safe driving award in a special ceremony in Nashville. His name and the 3M miles were placed on a new cab in his honor.
Robert is preceded in death by his parents, Jacob E. (Jack) Benson and Juanita M. Knuth (nee: Hanson), his wife of 64 years, Bonnie Jane Benson (nee: Jury), and his sister, Jeanne L. Grose. He is survived by six children, Judy (Curt) Kish of Sturtevant, WI, Ellen (Dan) Schwengel of Smyrna, TN, Sarah Boner, of LaVergne, TN, Janet (Charlie) Dunn of Noblesville, IN, Robert (Michael) Benson Jr. of Dickson, TN, and Brian Benson of Nashville, TN. He was a grandfather of 13, and great-grandfather of 17. He touched many lives in many ways and will be dearly missed.
There will be no funeral or memorial service at the request of the departed. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Avalon Hospice of Murfreesboro, or the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Woodlawn-Roesch-PattonFH.com for the BENSON family.
Robert was born on April 8, 1932 in Appleton, WI during the Great Depression. His father changed jobs frequently and didn't spend much time with his family. They lived in several places before he was 4 years old, Chicago, IL, Rockford, IL, and Madison, WI. In 1938, his father left them, and his parents divorced a year later. They had already spent a great deal of time staying at his grandparents farm (Harry & Nellie "Donohue" Hanson), and made their home there until Juanita could afford her own place. Later they moved to a new house on West Second Street in Appleton.
In 1950 he joined the U.S. Army to serve his country during the Korean War conflict. Robert spent five months of his service in a combat zone until it was discovered that he was the sole surviving son of his family. According to Section 6(o) of the Military Selective Service Act of 1948, sole surviving sons were not to be in combat zones, so he was transferred to Japan where he finished his service time in the Military Police.
Following military service, he got his pilots license and did three solo flights when small planes had a floor stick to steer.
In 1952 he took a job with Intercity Coach Lines (city bus) in Appleton, WI, where he met his future bride, Bonnie Jury who worked at the Woolworth's store on his route. When Bonnie rode the bus, he made sure to never charge her the 10-cent fare. They were married on June 30, 1955, at St. John's Catholic church in Little Chute, WI.
One year later, Robert then took a job driving for Greyhound Bus in Appleton. In 1959 he moved his wife and two daughters, Judy and Ellen, to the Racine area where he built a new home. Later, for a short time, he drove truck for American Motors and Schwerman. In 1968 he began his 29-year career with Consolidated Freightways. In 1980, he was transferred to Lexington, KY and then again in 1982 to Nashville, TN where he finished his driving career in 1997 with 3,000,001 safe driving miles. The CEO for Consolidated Freightways came from California to present him with the safe driving award in a special ceremony in Nashville. His name and the 3M miles were placed on a new cab in his honor.
Robert is preceded in death by his parents, Jacob E. (Jack) Benson and Juanita M. Knuth (nee: Hanson), his wife of 64 years, Bonnie Jane Benson (nee: Jury), and his sister, Jeanne L. Grose. He is survived by six children, Judy (Curt) Kish of Sturtevant, WI, Ellen (Dan) Schwengel of Smyrna, TN, Sarah Boner, of LaVergne, TN, Janet (Charlie) Dunn of Noblesville, IN, Robert (Michael) Benson Jr. of Dickson, TN, and Brian Benson of Nashville, TN. He was a grandfather of 13, and great-grandfather of 17. He touched many lives in many ways and will be dearly missed.
There will be no funeral or memorial service at the request of the departed. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Avalon Hospice of Murfreesboro, or the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Woodlawn-Roesch-PattonFH.com for the BENSON family.
Robert Lee BENSON Sr., age 89, of Antioch, Tennessee passed away on Friday, March 18, 2022 at The Bridge Nursing Home.
Robert was born on April 8, 1932 in Appleton, WI during the Great Depression. His father changed jobs frequently and didn't spend much time with his family. They lived in several places before he was 4 years old, Chicago, IL, Rockford, IL, and Madison, WI. In 1938, his father left them, and his parents divorced a year later. They had already spent a great deal of time staying at his grandparents farm (Harry & Nellie "Donohue" Hanson), and made their home there until Juanita could afford her own place. Later they moved to a new house on West Second Street in Appleton.
In 1950 he joined the U.S. Army to serve his country during the Korean War conflict. Robert spent five months of his service in a combat zone until it was discovered that he was the sole surviving son of his family. According to Section 6(o) of the Military Selective Service Act of 1948, sole surviving sons were not to be in combat zones, so he was transferred to Japan where he finished his service time in the Military Police.
Following military service, he got his pilots license and did three solo flights when small planes had a floor stick to steer.
In 1952 he took a job with Intercity Coach Lines (city bus) in Appleton, WI, where he met his future bride, Bonnie Jury who worked at the Woolworth's store on his route. When Bonnie rode the bus, he made sure to never charge her the 10-cent fare. They were married on June 30, 1955, at St. John's Catholic church in Little Chute, WI.
One year later, Robert then took a job driving for Greyhound Bus in Appleton. In 1959 he moved his wife and two daughters, Judy and Ellen, to the Racine area where he built a new home. Later, for a short time, he drove truck for American Motors and Schwerman. In 1968 he began his 29-year career with Consolidated Freightways. In 1980, he was transferred to Lexington, KY and then again in 1982 to Nashville, TN where he finished his driving career in 1997 with 3,000,001 safe driving miles. The CEO for Consolidated Freightways came from California to present him with the safe driving award in a special ceremony in Nashville. His name and the 3M miles were placed on a new cab in his honor.
Robert is preceded in death by his parents, Jacob E. (Jack) Benson and Juanita M. Knuth (nee: Hanson), his wife of 64 years, Bonnie Jane Benson (nee: Jury), and his sister, Jeanne L. Grose. He is survived by six children, Judy (Curt) Kish of Sturtevant, WI, Ellen (Dan) Schwengel of Smyrna, TN, Sarah Boner, of LaVergne, TN, Janet (Charlie) Dunn of Noblesville, IN, Robert (Michael) Benson Jr. of Dickson, TN, and Brian Benson of Nashville, TN. He was a grandfather of 13, and great-grandfather of 17. He touched many lives in many ways and will be dearly missed.
There will be no funeral or memorial service at the request of the departed. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Avalon Hospice of Murfreesboro, or the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Woodlawn-Roesch-PattonFH.com for the BENSON family.
Robert was born on April 8, 1932 in Appleton, WI during the Great Depression. His father changed jobs frequently and didn't spend much time with his family. They lived in several places before he was 4 years old, Chicago, IL, Rockford, IL, and Madison, WI. In 1938, his father left them, and his parents divorced a year later. They had already spent a great deal of time staying at his grandparents farm (Harry & Nellie "Donohue" Hanson), and made their home there until Juanita could afford her own place. Later they moved to a new house on West Second Street in Appleton.
In 1950 he joined the U.S. Army to serve his country during the Korean War conflict. Robert spent five months of his service in a combat zone until it was discovered that he was the sole surviving son of his family. According to Section 6(o) of the Military Selective Service Act of 1948, sole surviving sons were not to be in combat zones, so he was transferred to Japan where he finished his service time in the Military Police.
Following military service, he got his pilots license and did three solo flights when small planes had a floor stick to steer.
In 1952 he took a job with Intercity Coach Lines (city bus) in Appleton, WI, where he met his future bride, Bonnie Jury who worked at the Woolworth's store on his route. When Bonnie rode the bus, he made sure to never charge her the 10-cent fare. They were married on June 30, 1955, at St. John's Catholic church in Little Chute, WI.
One year later, Robert then took a job driving for Greyhound Bus in Appleton. In 1959 he moved his wife and two daughters, Judy and Ellen, to the Racine area where he built a new home. Later, for a short time, he drove truck for American Motors and Schwerman. In 1968 he began his 29-year career with Consolidated Freightways. In 1980, he was transferred to Lexington, KY and then again in 1982 to Nashville, TN where he finished his driving career in 1997 with 3,000,001 safe driving miles. The CEO for Consolidated Freightways came from California to present him with the safe driving award in a special ceremony in Nashville. His name and the 3M miles were placed on a new cab in his honor.
Robert is preceded in death by his parents, Jacob E. (Jack) Benson and Juanita M. Knuth (nee: Hanson), his wife of 64 years, Bonnie Jane Benson (nee: Jury), and his sister, Jeanne L. Grose. He is survived by six children, Judy (Curt) Kish of Sturtevant, WI, Ellen (Dan) Schwengel of Smyrna, TN, Sarah Boner, of LaVergne, TN, Janet (Charlie) Dunn of Noblesville, IN, Robert (Michael) Benson Jr. of Dickson, TN, and Brian Benson of Nashville, TN. He was a grandfather of 13, and great-grandfather of 17. He touched many lives in many ways and will be dearly missed.
There will be no funeral or memorial service at the request of the departed. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Avalon Hospice of Murfreesboro, or the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Woodlawn-Roesch-PattonFH.com for the BENSON family.
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