Charles William Benedict

CHARLES WILLIAM BENEDICT 
Charles William "Bill" 
Benedict, 90, Fought the good  fight, and passed away peacefully of old age. 
Youngest of six, born and raised in Joliet at 
1209 Center St. He attended grade school at 
St. Raymonds. After graduating form JTHS, he 
enlisted in the Navy serving aboard the USS 
Coral Sea in postwar occupied Japan. He later 
worked at Argonne National Laboratory as an 
IAM machinist tool and die maker 1959 - 1991. 
His projects included working in the 'hot' 
shop, with radioactive materials; he also 
assisted in building the bubble chamber, an 
experiment to detect neutrinos. In the early 
60's he was chosen to work on the Apollo 
spacecraft, which was'TOP SECRET' at the 
time. His security status (and that of his 
family) was part of why America came out in 
the #1 position during the cold war 'Race for 
Space'. He vividly told a story of constructing 
a super magnet for a Russian scientific 
exchange. The 18 wheeler had to be devoid of 
all American flags his shop had supplied. 
Politically incorrect!!  He was ahead of his time 
in his love of the land and ecological 
awareness that led him to grow all his flowers 
and vegetables from seed in his own 
greenhouse providing fresh organic food for 
his family. He canned, composted, dried food, 
and promoted whole natural food & vitamins. 
The birds really enjoyed his early attempts at 
baking fresh bread. He loved dogs and cats 
and had many through the years.For many 
years in winter he would drive to Mexico for 
vacation in his Peugeot 405. 
Survived by his three children, Susan 
Benedict, David ( Micki ) Benedict, and Alan 
Benedict, 7 Grandchildren and his sister Dorthy. 
Predeceased by his beloved sister Vivian 
(Sid), brothers Robert, Kenneth, and Gerald 
and his favorite brother-in-law Joe Ginejko. 
In lieu of flowers please donate to St. 
Joseph's Indian School, Help Save Pets HSP in 
Plainfield, National Wildlife Federation, Best 
Friends, or World Wilderness Fund. 
Special kudos to Sarah RN from Joliet 
Hospice, Angie Weyker CNA, and Park Pointe 
Rehab in Morris for all their tender care for 
the last years of Pop's life. 
Visitation Monday, January 27th 3:00 - 8:00 
p.m. Tezaks Funeral Home 1211 Plainfield 
Road, Joliet. Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday, 
January 28th meet 9:30 a.m. at St. Raymonds 
Cathedral 608 N. Raynor Ave.

Interment
Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.