Obituary of Benjamin W. Marheine

Benjamin W. Marheine, age 87, of Brantwood, passed away peacefully on October 27, 2020 at Rib Lake Health Services under the care of Aspirus Hospice. Ben was born on June 28, 1933 to Benjamin L. & Lillian (Hendrickson) Marheine. He was married to Lori Ludtke; she preceded him in death in 1995. Ben, the first of 7 children, grew up on a small farm in Brantwood where he spent his youth working with the cattle and helping raise his younger siblings. He studied art under Ruth Stolle at Tripoli High School and had some of his work published in Ford Magazine. After high school he studied drafting at Chicago Techincal College, by mail, where he was an "A" student. However, the desire to stay near home and care for his family prevailed and he did not pursue a career as an architectural draftsman. After several years of logging and farming he joined the US Army and was stationed in Böblingen, Germany, during the late 50s, working as a mail clerk. After returning home from his service, he and two of his brothers (Clarence and Jim) joined the National Guard's 32nd Infantry Division out of Phillips, WI. They were deployed to Washington State at Ft. Lewis during the Berlin Crisis, in the 724th Engineering Battalion (Co. C) where he underwent rigorous training as a combat engineer and earned the rank of SP5 (sergeant equivalent). With the option to pursue a career in the military, his heart belonged to his home and family so he returned to home base where he began driving a logging truck, also becoming a school bus driver for Tripoli H.S. throughout the 60s. After the H.S. closed in the late 60s he focused on farming and trucking until the mid -70s when he joined his brother-in-law, Don, in a housing development project in Saudi Arabia. There he delivered sections of pre-fab housing from port to building sites. After a couple years of overseas trucking, he once again returned to Northern Wisconsin to his family farm and logging endeavors. In the late 70s Ben decided to settle down, on the property he purchased next door to his parents, and start a family of his own where he built his own home and beef farm, in partnership with his brother Jim, and continued hauling wood to the mills for area logging companies, eventually becoming an owner/operator in the 80s. In 1992 the farm suffered a major fire and he left the partnership and focused on his trucking career as well as serving his local American Legion with honor. Ben loved gardening, planting trees and flowers, art and music, travelling and story-telling. But, Ben was above all a family man, a caring man, and a long-time fixture, known as “Renegade,” to the local pulp trucker culture. His loader operating prowess was legendary. Ben had a reputation as a fair and dependable resource for mills and loggers alike. He retired his logging truck at the age of 76, but was always quick to haul a load of hay for his brother's beef operation next door until selling the truck in 2018. He spent his remaining days taking care of the property between enjoying memories and meals with friends and family. Ben is survived by his son – Benjamin E. Marheine of Brantwood; step daughter – Sonia (Dale) Landwehr; granddaughter – Scarlett August; his siblings – Kathleen Conlan, Nancy (Otto) Vyskocil, Judy (Donald) Morin, Clarence “Tuffy” Marheine, James (Ann) Marheine & Dennis (Sue) Marheine. Ben is preceded in death by his parents, wife – Lori and significant other for many years – Virigina Pyykonen. Due to COVID-19, a Memorial Service celebrating Ben’s life will be postponed until it is safe to do so. His final resting place will be in Spirit Hillcrest Cemetery. Krueger Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the family with arrangements. You may view the full obituary and leave online condolences at www.kruegerfamilyfuneral.com There are no events scheduled. You can still show your support by planting a tree in memory of Benjamin Marheine.