Br. Earl Benz, O.F.M.

Br. Earl Benz, OFM, was born November 14, 1929, to Frank and Mary (Wolf) Benz in rural Quincy, IL. In baptism, he was given the name, Robert. He had one older sister, Hilda, and one older brother, Albert (“Ab”). Robert was raised on the family farm and received eight years of education at the nearby St. Anthony Catholic School. Graduating, he worked on the family farm helping transition from horses to tractors, along with the beginning of a dairy, until he was drafted into the U. S. Army as part of the Korean Police Action on March 3, 1951. Instead of Korea, he spent 14 months in Germany as part of the 28th Division Occupation Commitment after World War II.
Discharged on March 4, 1953, Robert returned to working on the family farm until he felt a call to become a Franciscan friar. On May 17, 1955, he made his III Order profession as a Franciscan and began work as part of the construction crew for the St. Paschal’s Brothers’ School in Oak Brook, IL. In his own words, he said: “I never looked back, even though I loved the farm. After the first week, I knew this was where I would spend the rest of my life. Wherever you believe I can be of service, Lord, send me.”
On June 21, 1958, Robert Benz entered the Franciscan novitiate in Teutopolis, IL and was given the religious name: “Earl”. After making his first profession, Br. Earl spent a short time in Cleveland, OH, and then returned to Oak Brook, IL and the building of the brothers’ school. His main responsibility was the carpenter shop where he trained a number of future brothers in the art of making tables and chairs and other furniture for the province. He remained at St. Paschal’s in various additional administrative roles for the next 32 years, followed by an additional 27 years as administrator of a senior citizen facility in Texas, in charge of maintenance at an outreach center in Chicago, IL, and as a caretaker of retired friars in Sherman, IL. In his own words: “It has been wonderful working in the Lord’s vineyard.” In 2018, Br. Earl moved to the Franciscan retirement community at Blessed Giles Friary in Manitowoc, WI for his final 7 years. With his health declining in recent months, he passed away in the early morning hours of June 26, 2025.
Br. Earl was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Mary, his sister, Hilda, his brother, Ab, and Ab’s wife, Marjorie, along with countless relatives and other Franciscan friars. He is survived by a nephew, Charles Benz, his wife, Christi, and their 4 children: Samantha, Jessica (Taylor) Brown, Max and Alexandra, a niece, Geri Ann Black, and her two sons, Kris and Zach (Ally) Weaver and her husband, Trenton, two great great nephews, Wyatt and Eli Brown, as well as other relatives and fellow Franciscans.
The friars would like to express their appreciation to Br. Earl’s caregivers at Blessed Giles Friary and the staff at Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice in Sheboygan Falls, WI.
His fellow Franciscans will gather at the Pfeffer Funeral Home in Manitowoc, WI, for a prayer service and a final farewell with Br. Earl on June 27. After his cremation, there will be a Memorial Service in the chapel of Blessed Giles Friary, 1820 Grand Avenue in Manitowoc at 11 am on Wednesday, July 2nd. His cremains will be taken to Quincy, IL for a final funeral Mass at 11 am on Saturday, July 5th, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 2223 St. Anthony Road, Quincy, IL 62305, followed by the interment of his cremains in the Frank Benz family plot in the parish cemetery.
In your kindness, please consider making a donation in memory of Br. Earl Benz, OFM, for the continued care of our retired Franciscan brothers and priests. Any donation would be greatly appreciated. Please send your charitable donation to: Franciscan Friars of Missouri for the benefit of Blessed Giles Friary, 3140 Meramec Street, St. Louis, MO 63118. Attn: Finance Office. May God bless you!
The Lakeshore Family Funeral Home, Pfeffer location, Manitowoc, WI, is assisting the friars with funeral arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed by visiting: https://www.lakeshorefamilyfuneralhomes.com/obituary/BrEarlBenzOFM