Bruce Ernest Benedict
Bruce Ernest Benedict was born on April 24, 1935, the first child of Harold and Edith (VanBlarcom) Benedict. Bruce passed away peacefully at his family farm on January 29, 2026.
Bruce graduated from Vermontville Agricultural School in 1953. At age 18 he joined the Michigan National Guard serving six years. During this time, he worked at Oldsmobile. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1961. Bruce began a distinguished career with the U.S. Customs Department. He then worked as a customs consultant at J.V. Car in Detroit and Chicago. He rounded out his career working at Amway as Manager of International Customs Administration Services.
A lifelong student of history, Bruce was a devoted board member and volunteer at the Welch Historical Museum in Sunfield, Michigan. He was also an active member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. He meticulously researched and documented every branch of his family tree.
Bruce is survived by his beloved wife Carol (Fluger) Benedict of 27 years. Those 27 years were filled with travel and adventure and quality time spent with family and friends. Bruce embraced Carol’s family as his own. He loved them and they loved him and they created many happy memories together. He is survived by his mother-in-law Elsie Fluger, of Lake Elmo, Minnesota and by Carol’s brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews.
He is also survived by his daughter Shirley Julaine Benedict Stilgebauer (Kenneth), his son Terry Bruce Benedict (Maureen), his daughter Jackie Dené Thompson (John), and their mother Margaret Joan Price Benedict, his daughter Sarah Louise Benedict and her mother Genevieve d’Argy, and former wife, Eunice Borelli. He was blessed by and survived by numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Bruce is survived by his sisters, Merial Das (Sunil), Mary Jo Brimmer and her significant other Tom Schmidt, Iris Wion (Leroy), Cherry Smart (Jimmy), Karen Usitalo (Jim), Brenda Bendict, and his brother Brian Benedict (Lorraine).
A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 2 to 6p.m., at the Bismark Schoolhouse, 8925 Round Lake Road, Vermontville, MI 49096.
To view a complete obituary on line or leave a condolence for family, visit RosierFuneralHome@hotmail.com.