Benjamin Earl Waldbuser

Benjamin Earl Waldbuser of Kissee Mills, MO died Saturday, December 29, 2018, of natural causes, at his residence. He was born April 3, 1941 in Peoria, Illinois. His parents were Benjamin John and Henrietta Isabelle (Widmer) Waldbuser.

After his high school graduation, Benjamin moved to the East coast and was a radio engineer.

He returned to Illinois and became a telecommunicator for the Illinois State Police. On August 6, 1967 he married Margaret Thompson, RN, at Urbana, Illinois. They relocated to Rockaway Beach, Missouri where they operated Green Mountain Lodge for 17 years. Benjamin was a skilled handyman and took care of all maintenance for the resort.  He also worked for Town and Country Propane, and for Delmina Woods Youth Facility in Forsyth, Missouri. Over the years, Benjamin served the Rockaway community as mayor, police chief, and city council member. He was a member of Forsyth United Methodist Church, and a 50-year member of the Odd Fellows. Benjamin loved to go mushroom hunting, and he loved to say, “There are two ways for everything: the German way and my way, and they are the same.”  

He is survived by his wife, Margaret, of Kissee Mills, and family members residing in New Mexico: a sister, Norma Placchi; a nephew, Lee Placchi; and a niece, Carol Placchi Brown and her children Jared and Shelby. Benjamin was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be Thursday, January 3, 2019 from 1 to 3 PM at Forsyth United Methodist Church, followed by a funeral service at the church at 3 PM. Benjamin will then be taken for burial at Bailey Cemetery, Tolono, Illinois on Saturday January 5, 2019.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to a charity of the donor’s choosing.

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