Kermit Kay Benner, 84, passed away peacefully on Oct. 4, 2025 at St. Francis Hospital in Colorado Springs, CO.

He was born March 27, 1941 in Iowa City, Iowa to Claire and Josephine (Brown) Benner. He spent his early years in Panora, Iowa then moved with his parents to Des Moines, where he finished middle school and high school at East High School. He attended Grand View Danish College until the death of his mother interrupted his studies.

Kermit (Kert) enlisted in the Navy in 1960, as a Radarman 1st Class and most of time on supply ships, sailing the waters in and around Japan. To pass the time, he joined a square dance group and traveled around Japan.

In 1964, he left the Navy and settled in southern California and joined General Telephone Company of Southern California in Redondo Beach as a Switchman. This is where he met Reathea Louise Benner, his wife of 59 years. They raised their family in Redondo Beach, Torrance, and Placentia, California until 1977 when they moved to Memphis, TN to be near family. They lived there 31 years before moving to Colorado Springs in 2008. Kert loved Colorado and living in the Antelope Ridge Community, where he and Reathea were active community members.

He attributed his long life to his doctors and advancements in modern medicine. He always said “he was in the right spot at the right time” to benefit from science. Most of his family weren’t this lucky.

Kert was a MacTool salesman, wrecker driver for 35 years and also worked at automotive shops. He loved camping, water skiing at Lake Mead and Lake Tahoe, Bocce’ Ball and volunteering at the El Paso County Election Board.

He was preceded in death by his father Claire, mother Josephine and four siblings - brothers Jack and Carl Benner, and two sisters Bonnie Sampson and Dorothy Sipe - as well as grandson Trevor Weisse, and other nephews and nieces.

Kert is survived by his wife Reathea, daughters Kathy Weisse and Kristin Hayes (John Hayes), his son, Mark Benner (Amanda Benner), grandsons Austin Weisse and Zachary Benner, nieces Marilyn Wilde, Jean Benner, Connie Sampson and great niece Rondea Wine.

He will be inurned in Pikes Peak National Cemetery, near Colorado Springs. “A Remembrance of Life” will be held at a later time.