Ray Benz

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, March 30, 2010

BASEHOR, Kan. — Services for Ray Benz, 74, of Bonner Springs, Kan., who died Saturday, March 27, 2010, will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday at the Holy Angels Catholic Church in Basehor, Kan.

Burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Kansas City, Kan., under the direction of Alden-Harrington Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home, with a rosary following.

Mr. Benz was born June 12, 1935, in St. Louis, Mo., the son of John Raymond Benz and Julia Benz.

Mr. Benz relocated to Kansas City in 1965 where he began his career as an entrepreneur. His businesses include Benz Building Maintenance, real estate investments and other successful business ventures.

His biggest success in life was his loving and devoted 48-year marriage to Carolyn Benz. Together they raised their four children, enjoyed 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was amazing in his ability to make each and every grandchild feel as if he was his favorite. His interests included traveling, fishing, river rafting, camping and cooking.

One of Mr. Benz’s significant life avocations was his recover from alcoholism, which began Oct. 29, 1969 — “the day he came to believe.”

He recently celebrated his 40th anniversary of sobriety. This event was celebrated with family and friends, which many of whom he had played a significant role in helping with their journey in recovery. Those who he touched will be very familiar with one of his favorite prayers: God help me to keep on keeping on, doing what I’m supposed to be doing, whether I feel like it or not!

Mr. Benz lived his life with gratitude, joy and laughter. He enjoyed spending time with family, a strong cup of coffee with a friend, a phone call with a brother, a visit from a grandchild or a game of golf on the Wii.

He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents; and one brother, Ken Benz.

Survivors include his four children, Jeff Benz and wife, Terri, John Benz and wife, April, Elaine Fowler and husband, Ray, and Marcy Masters and husband, Ted; 13 grandchildren, Julianne, Jenny, Jake, Meg, Zach, Kale, Kent, Meridith, Natalie, Liyah, Tori, Cooper and Parker; three brothers, Jim Benz, Tom Benz and Mike Benz, all of St. Louis; one sister, Mary Ann Benz of St. Louis; one sister-in-law, Mary Freitag of New York Harbor, Maine; and all of his brothers and sisters in recovery.