Guy E. Benjamin, 55, of Huntly Road, Niles, died at 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010 at Lakeland Community Hospital unexpectedly, but following a brief illness.

He was born April 24, 1955 in Niles to Ned and Maxine (Heierman) Benjamin, and lived there all of his life. He graduated from Niles High School, earned an associate’s degree from Southwestern Michigan College and was employed at Hess Engineering in Niles for 27 years.

Guy was a great fan of all the athletic teams at the University of Notre Dame and was also a fan of the Chicago Cubs baseball team, and was an expert in all sports trivia. When his children were young, he was a volunteer coach for their athletic teams.

As a young man, Guy worked with his father at Ned’s Meat Processing learning that craft, which he continued to practice at home. He also enjoyed woodworking in his home shop.

He was a member of the B.P.O. of Niles Elks 1322.

On June 3, 1978 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Niles, he married the former Rebecca A. Lehner, with whom he celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary this year.

He is survived by his wife, Becky Benjamin; and their children, Bryan (Sandy) Benjamin of Los Angeles and Chelsey (Brent Martinez) Benjamin of Lansing, Mich.; Guy’s mother, Maxine “Mickey” Benjamin of Niles; his sister, Beth Benjamin of Niles; and by Becky’s family, including her parents, Joe (Phylis) Lehner of North Port, Fla. and Barbara (Crockett) Long of St. Cloud, Fla.; her brothers, Dave (Sara) Lehner of Colorado Springs, Colo., Gary (Bonnie) Lehner of Richwood, Texas, Chris (Tina) Lehner of Honolulu, Hawaii and John (Jennifer) Lehner of St. Joseph, Mich.; her sister, Annette Lehner of St. Cloud, Fla.

Guy was preceded in death by his father, Ned Benjamin, on Dec. 7, 2001.

The funeral service for Guy E. Benjamin will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 13, 2010 at St. John’s United Church of Christ, Niles, with the Rev. Harry L. Clark of the church officiating.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles and beginning at 10 a.m. Monday at the church.

Elks’ rites will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home by the B.P.O. of Niles Elks 1322.

Contributions in memory of Guy may be made to the Virginia Heierman Frucci Memorial Scholarship Fund for girls graduating from Niles High School.