Josephine Benzick

Josephine M. Benzick, age 92, of Faribault, MN, passed away on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at District One Hospital in Faribault, following a brief illness.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, February 3, 2017, at 10:30 am at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 139 Mercy Drive in Faribault. Interment will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Faribault.

Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory in Faribault on Thursday from 4:00 to 7:00 pm and at the church on Friday for one hour prior to services.

Josephine Madeline was born on March 9, 1924, in Moorhead, MN to Leonard and Margaret (James) Gruber. She was raised on the family farm in Shieldsville Township, Rice County. She attended country school, which was located on donated land from her family. Josephine was united in marriage to Eugene Benzick on August 29, 1959 in Faribault. Josephine was a hard worker. She worked seasonally for Faribault Foods, raised her five children, and later worked at Farmer Seed and Nursery. She loved working her enormous garden, which produced a plentiful amount of vegetables for canning and cooking. Josephine took great joy in feeding family, friends, and neighbors. She also had a green thumb, having many plants and flowers that flourished. Along with her family, she also was very devoted to her faith.

She is survived by her husband, Eugene Benzick; children, Paul (Maria) Benzick, Tom (Kay) Benzick, Joanne (Jeff) Spitzack, Jim Benzick, and Matt (Cheryl) Benzick; grandchildren, Alyssa and Hannah Benzick, Nicole (Raul) Dominguez, Michelle Benzick (Anthony Putratz), Jarett Spitzack (Autumn Gare), Jayton Spitzack, and Alesha Benzick; great grandchildren, Gabriel, Raul Jr., and Rafael; brothers, Leonard (Muriel) Gruber, and Harry Gruber; brothers-in-law, Ambrose Moriarity, and Al (Carol) Moriarity; and many nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and Margaret; sister, Anne E. Gruber; sister-in-law, Mary Ann Gruber.