Capt. William T. Benson, USNR (Ret) 87, formerly of Oak Park Place died Thursday, March 1, 2018 at Sunset Park Place. Private family services will be held at a later date.
William married Martha “Marty” (Cadzow) Benson on July 12, 1952 in Jenkintown, PA and were married for 64 years. His beloved Marty preceded him in death on May 11, 2017, William and Martha will be buried together in Arlington National Cemetery.
William (Bill) began as a Merchant Mariner, this allowed him to travel all over the world. Graduating from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY in 1951. After his marriage, began what became known by family and friends as the Benson Family Travelling Circus. In 1955, Bill enlisted in the Navy. After spending two years stationed in England he returned to the States and was stationed in different areas up and down the eastern seaboard including Norfolk, VA and Rhode Island. In 1962, Bill left active duty from the Navy, continued serving in the Naval Reserve and began his civilian career in New York working for the United Nations. Bill accepted an assignment in Taipei, Taiwan to work on the seaport of Taiwan. Bill and his family returned to the United States, but soon after they were off again as he took a job working in the San Juan Harbor in Puerto Rico from 1966 to 1968. The Benson Family Circus doesn’t stop there, Bill and his family moved to Chicago where he worked for International Mineral and Chemical until 1974. In 1974, Bill and Marty moved to New Jersey while he worked for Occidental Petroleum in New York City and was eventually transferred to Tampa, FL in 1983. He retired from Occidental a few years later. After retiring William and Martha bought a motor home where they traveled across the entire United States as well as Canada. During their travels they visited family and friends, enjoyed being tourists, and fulfilled dreams such as seeing the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, and Whale Watching in Newfoundland.

Those left to cherish his memory include his children James (Heidi) Benson of Neenah, WI, and Betsy (Dieter) Muhlack of Dubuque; grandchildren Dana (Kunal) Patel and Kelly (Shawn) Meinholz, Jacob Benson all of Neenah, WI and William (Brooke) Muhlack of Sioux City, IA; great grandchildren Asher and Dillon Patel and Arabella Meinholz; sister Nancy Irving of Baltimore, MD; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his son Richard Benson; a grandson Todd Muhlack; and two brothers Frank and Robert Benson.
The family would like to thank the staff at Sunset Park especially those in the Weland Gardens Unit, as well as Hospice of Dubuque for their care and compassion.