Joseph E. Bensman, 88, of Russia, died at 2:14 a.m. Oct. 12, 2013, at Versailles Health Care Center.

He was born April 12, 1925, in St. Patrick, to Joseph and Emma Hoying Bensman. He married his wife of 66 years, Marcella J. Dapore, on Aug. 20, 1947, in Russia, and she survives.

Other survivors include two sons, Rick Bensman, Worthington, and Dan (Karen Blakeley) Bensman, Russia; two sisters, Sr. Mary Josephine and Sr. Joseph Maria, both of Mount St. Joseph, Cincinnati; a brother, the Rev. John Bensman, Carthagena; five grandchildren Natalie (Kyle) Hildebrandt, Worthington, Shellie (Andrew) Smith, Worthington, Sarah Bensman, Columbus, Amy Bensman, Worthington, and Mitchell Bensman, Russia, and a great-grandson, Eli Hildebrand.

He was preceded in death by daughters Bonnie in 1996 and Annette in 1964; two sisters, Sr. Mary Edmund Bensman and Juliana Bergman; and three brothers, Herbert, Victor and Norman Bensman.

He had cancer for two years but did not "lose his battle with cancer" any more than someone loses their battle with life. He lived with cancer, never complained, smiled during chemotherapy and radiation and came home to rest before working around the house or taking care of his garden. He loved farming and did this from his youth until he and his wife moved to town in 1994. He also worked 23 years at Stolle Corp. in Sidney. He was brilliant at fixing just about anything and knowing how things worked. When he didn't have the parts or tools, he improvised and used his talent on the farm, at the shop and as custodian for St. Remy Parish for two years. There was probably nowhere he would rather be than at Mass or church services. He loved singing songs to his grandchildren when they were young and they often teased him about his notorious sweet tooth.
  He was a member of St. Remy Catholic Church and the St. Remy Council of the Knights of Columbus, both of Russia.
  Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church, the Rev. Frank Amberger officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Calling is 3-8 p.m. Tuesday and 9-10 a.m. Wednesday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Russia.

Condolences may be left at www.hogenkampfh.com.