Benjamin Robert Griswold

Ben, a beloved husband, father of 7, grandfather of 12, and great grandfather of 14, leaves behind many who love, respect, and will greatly miss this strong patriarch.

Benjamin and Ellen Griswold announced Ben’s birth on December 5, 1931, in Rock Lake, North Dakota. The family soon moved to Michigan where Ben learned his strong work ethic by helping on the family farm.

While playing football in college, he met Mary Kathryn Fitzpatrick, a nursing student. They married on June 2, 1955. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.

Ben worked hard, with deep-seated integrity and passion, for the love of his family. Even though his job of selling seed corn made him travel often, he sacrificed much to ensure that the family had all they needed, including his support at school events (mostly sports) that he rushed home to attend.

Ben enjoyed life and so many things in it … and he passed many of these things on to his family. He loved playing, coaching, and watching sports of all kinds, being involved in his community, making his special recipe chicken for the family, gardening, MacGyvering anything that needed fixing, taking family camping trips in Michigan, organizing family reunions, and pretty much anything that involved spending time with his beloved family.

But he loved nothing more than Mary, his bride of nearly 65 years. He loved her well and taught by example about deep, unconditional love.

Ben is survived by his wife Mary, his children and their spouses: Jacqui, Steve (Lorie), Mike (Liz), Patty, Greg (Patty), Susan (Patrick), and Mark, his 12 grandchildren (Joshua, Kylie, Stephanie, Tim, Dave, Justin, Mia, Clayton, Caleb, Rachel, Logan, and Emma), and his 14 great grandkids (Addie, Parker, Carson, Isaiah, Jonny, Moriah, McKenzie, Mason, Joe, George, Pete, Veronica, Eddie, and baby-to-be), as well as a sister and many more extended family members.

He was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (OLMC) Catholic Church, in Carmel, Indiana. The funeral mass will be held at OLMC on April 14 with immediate family, with a cremation to follow. A celebration of life will be held at a later date and time to be determined once the coronavirus distancing has been lifted. Arrangements entrusted with Leppert Mortuary Smith Carmel Chapel.

In lieu of flowers the family requests either Mass' said in memory of Ben or a donation to Boys Town. For those who don't know about this organization here is a summery of their mission.

Boys Town is a beacon of hope for America's children and families through its life-changing youth care and health care programs across the United States. Founded by Father Edward Flanagan in 1917, Boys Town is nearly 100 years strong. Through a continuum of family services, the nonprofit, nonsectarian organization provides the right services at the right time based on a child's or family's needs. Boys Town offers children and families services in their own homes, or, when necessary, family-like out-of-home services to children. Boys Town works with communities and schools in order to meet the growing and more diverse needs of today's children and families. The nonprofit touches the lives of more than 2 million people each year.