Wayne Douglas Benson

Wayne Douglas Benson passed away in his Henderson, Nevada home during the quiet afternoon hours on August 21st 2025, one week following his 93rd birthday 

Wayne was born in an old farmhouse off of County W in  The Clifton Township, of Monroe Country, on August 13th 1932. The only son to parents Ben Lloyd & Luella Benson ( Ormson) who had grown up themselves, walking those country roads and farming the land. 

Wayne attended Rocky Run, a one room school house, for grades 1st-8th where his education grew and  life long friendships were procured, one in particular Arlene Burch, 92, who spoke to Wayne just weeks before he passed. 

In 1947, Wayne began walking the halls of Kendall High School, where he was known to be seen sporting that handsome blonde hair and always with  a friendly smile, recounts his friends, Merlin Hamburg & Darlene Martalock in their calls to Wayne in his final weeks. During his high school years he tended to focus more on fun & friendships than on his studies ( his words) but earning his diploma, he graduated with the

KHS class of 1951. 

About a year after graduating,  Wayne headed to Lackland Air force Base for Basic training in 1952. He was then stationed at  Everett Paine in Washington, for one year, followed by Narsarsuaq ,GreenLand, “The Miami of the North” in 1954 for 1 year.  His final two years were spent at  Sewart Air force Base in Smyrna TN (25 miles outta Nashville) Jokingly Wayne referred to it as, “his greatest fight, battling the streets of  Nashville for two years.” 

In 1956, Wayne headed back to his hometown in Wisconsin, where he helped out on the farm & “met up” with many old friends. In 1957, one of those old friends ( possibly John Collins who Wayne spoke to maybe a week before John passed, laughing it up, sounding just as they did back in the good old days) introduced him to Glorine E.  Hammon/Hunter (a 1954 graduate of K.H.S. as well) at the infamous Siebeckers, on Main Street in downtown Kendall.  The couple married in a civil ceremony

in Lake Forest at the house of the JP on April 28th,1958. Harlan Friske was his best man and Leona ( Harlan’s wife) reminisced with Wayne just weeks before his passing about their longtime friendship. After being married, Wayne & Glorine lived downtown Chicago in a quaint apartment during that year. 

Wayne was hired as an Air Operations Specialist at United Airlines in 1958 and continued his employment until 1966.

Soon after the arrival of their first baby boy, Eric Wayne Benson in 1959, the couple ventured out to the suburbs, where they settled  in Cary, Illinois and had their first house built in the subdivision of Lake Killarney, eventually building again at 6404 Londonderry Dr.where they raised their three children, Eric Wayne, Kevin Mitchell  & Amy Jo  (and their precious pup, Patches). 

During this time, Wayne’s passion for trucks took over and coincidentally he met Herb Hopkins ( “one of the finest people” he ever knew).  In 1966, Wayne began working for Herb of H & H Cartage (until Herb sold the company & retired in 1987). Wayne stayed on as a driver for the new owner,  John Pasique, “ it’s a good day to get those ducks in the water” until his retirement from truck driving in 1992. 

In 1988, after becoming empty nesters, the couple decided to pack it up and head back to their roots in Wisconsin. They bought a house on Main Street in Tomah Wisconsin, where Glorine opened up an in house antique shop, “Glory B Tiques”. 

Ten years later in 1999, they opted to go back to the rural country roads off of County A to W, located in Clifton Township, Monroe County, where they built a house on property that Wayne’s parents ( Ben Lloyd & Luella ) had farmed & lived on since the 1930’s. Glorine & Wayne spent 20 years in the beautiful countryside, bird watching, reconnecting with wildlife, Fountain Lutheran Church, family & long time friends. 

Being snow birds for many years, spending winters in Las Vegas, NV where their daughter had moved, after all three children became residents, Wayne & Glorine sold their home & property in Wisconsin in 2021 and moved to Henderson, NV. full time. 

Possibly quite apropos that Wayne passed on the 21st as lucky # 21 was kinda a thing and he was more than ready to “cross over”. “Right Back at Cha Kid” Godspeed.

Wayne leaves behind his three children, Eric ( Jennifer) Benson, Kevin Benson, and Amy Jo Turnbeaugh, three grandchildren: Trista Faith Turnbeaugh, Torri Grace Turnbeaugh and Kyle A. Benson and one great grand child Parker WAYNE Benson. 

Wayne was preceded in death by his  parents and his wife of 67 years. 

A memorial service will be held for both Wayne & Glorine Benson at Fountain Lutheran Church off Church Rd, in Kendall Wisconsin, on Saturday October 4th.  Fellowship Gathering to begin at 10am with coffee & breakfast bites.  Memorial Service to begin promptly at 11:11.  

Wayne & Glorine will be laid to rest at Fountain Lutheran Church Cemetery in Kendall, Wisconsin. 

In lieu of flowers please donate to Saint Judes Children’s Hospital in honor of Wayne D. Benson & Glorine E. Benson