Melvin E. (Red) Benschop was born on 27 March 1933 in Kankakee, Kankakee, Illinois.
1,2 He died on 12 May 2016, at age 83, in Stoughton, Dane, Wisconsin.
2 He was buried in Cooksville Cemetery, Cooksville, Rock, Wisconsin.
2 US Army- Korea-1953-1955.
3 Melvin E. (Red) Benschop was a Plant Operations Manager- Stoughton Hospital. Stoughton - Melvin "Red" Benschop, age 83, passed away peacefully on May 12, 2016 at Stoughton Hospital.
He was born on March 27, 1933 in Kankakee, IL., to Goldie and Henry (Hank) Benschop. He graduated from Stoughton High School in 1951. He was confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church. He was a member of the Boy Scouts and earned the honor of Eagle Scout. After high school he worked with his father in Hank's electrical business. He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1953 - 1955. He was in the Military Police and served in Korea. On May 14, 1955 he married his high school sweetheart, Beverly Rynning, at Cooksville Lutheran Church.
Red's work was always in the electrical business. His last employment was at Stoughton Hospital for 29 years as Plant Operations Manager. He was a very active member of the Wisconsin Hospital Engineers Association until his death. He was very active and served as a council member at both Cooksville Lutheran and First Lutheran Church, which the family joined in 1971. Red enjoyed being the "go to guy" for electrical work at both churches and his many friends. Red loved music and participated in the a cappella and Madrigal Choirs in high school, the Cooksville Men's Chorus and church choir, and the Dane County Men's Grieg Chorus.
In 1956 Red joined the Stoughton Volunteer Fire Department where he proudly served for 58 years, the last 25 years as First Assistant Chief. Serving and protecting the community was a high priority during his lifetime. Red enjoyed his travels and adventures with Bev including their trips to Italy, the Bahamas, and many vacations on the north shore of Lake Superior. Red loved spending time with his family including boating trips on the Mississippi, sightseeing and exploring many states on road trips to California and Florida. He also enjoyed downhill skiing with his daughter, camping, trips to Drummond, canoeing the Boundary Waters with his son, and fishing with his grandsons.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at First Lutheran Church, 310 E. Washington, Stoughton, WI. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17 at Cress Funeral Home, 206 W. Prospect, Stoughton and from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service on Wednesday.