Obituary: Antointette “Toni” Veronica Benak, 94, South Range, Wis.

Toni Benak

Obituary: Antointette “Toni” Veronica Benak, 94, South Range, Wis.

Antointette “Toni” Veronica Benak was born July 20, 1926 to Adam and Mary Balacavage in Custer.  She passed into the arms of our lord on July 28, 2020.  As a youngster she kept herself busy helping with the family farm and taking care of animals.  She attended Custer High School and shortly thereafter she met Joe Benak, the love of her life.  They married April 19, 1947 and built a house in Montague, affectionately known by our family as the “pink house”.  They had four children.  

They enjoyed their new home, but soon set their sights on south Florida for the opportunities it might provide.  They moved to Jupiter, Florida and eventually moved onto Miami where Toni worked for the U.S. Postal Service and Joe went to work for Eastern Airlines.  They enjoyed flying all over the world.  

When retirement time came they enjoyed spending time with their children and grandchildren and eventually moved to Rio, Wis. where they had a small hobby farm.  Toni was a true nature lover.  She loved the outdoors and enjoyed gardening and canning vegetables.  But she mostly enjoyed traveling the country with Joe in their motorhome.  They later moved to Portage Wis. where they enjoyed many rides to the river in the “gator” with their dog Buddy.  They eventually moved to South Range, Wis. to stay close to family.

Toni will mostly be remembered for the special love she shared with Joe, her sense of humor, and her love of nature.

Toni is survived by her daughters, Mary (Richard) Becker, Barb (Pat) Bergstrom; grandchildren Joe Benak, Alex Benak, PJ (Kari) Bergstrom and April (Kevin) Kauffman; and great-granddaughter, Evelyn Benak 

Toni was precedeed in death by her parents; sisters, Agnes, Eva, Alice, Frances and Veronica; and brother Anthony;  neices and nephews.  She was also preceded in death by her beloved husband Joe; sons, Joseph and Edward; and grandson, Corey Bergstrom.

Arrangements are being taken care of by Grasse Funeral Home in Rio, Wis..  Visitation is at 9:30 a.m. on August 3, 2020, with a Mass of Chrisitian burial at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Church in Rio.