William J. Benanzer

William J. ‘Bill’ Benanzer, age 95, of Coldwater, died Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at Briarwood Village in Coldwater. He was born November 7, 1925 in Celina to the late John & Josephine (Watercutter) Benanzer. On September 27, 1947 he married Alice (Schmerge) and she died May 12, 2008. He is survived by children, Larry (Pat) Benanzer of Versailles, Jan (Ron) Haley of Tipp City, Dave Benanzer of Findlay; son-in-law Fred Riethman of Coldwater; 7 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by a son Tom; a daughter Nancy Riethman; siblings Lawrence, Andrew, Clarence, Leo, Ben, Magdelina Eyink Angela Knapke-Miller, and Hilda Miller.
He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Coldwater, where he was a senior server, the men’s Holy Name of the church, Coldwater Knights of Columbus, honorary member of the Coldwater American Legion, Mercer County Farm Bureau, Steelworkers Union Local 4839 and a volunteer at Briarwood. Bill worked at the former New Idea Plant in Coldwater from 1944-1985 and he founded Benanzer Nursery in 1946 and ran that until 1990.

A Funeral Mass following all CDC guidelines will be held at 2 pm on Friday, February 12, 2021 at Holy Trinity Church, Coldwater with live stream at https://www.coldwatercluster.org/information/watch-mass-online. Burial will follow in St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Coldwater. The family would like to receive friends, but due to COVID-19 concerns viewing will be private. Memorials may be made to State of the Heart Care. Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.