Ben Gorski
Mass of Christian Burial for Ben Gorski, 86, will be conducted at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday, Jan. 18) at St. Raphael Catholic Church, Springfield. Interment will be in Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.
Parish Prayer Service at 4:00 and visitation from 4:00 to 7:00 Tuesday at Sturm Funeral Home in Springfield, continues today at St. Raphael Church from 10:00 a.m. until time of services.
Mr. Gorski died on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale.
Benjamin Gorski was born in Orleans, Minnesota, to parents who had emigrated from Poland. When he was a boy, both of his parents died in separate automobile accidents. He and the younger of his siblings were scattered among several different families, much to the dismay of his older sisters and brothers. During his military service he met the love of his life, Alma Baudoin, while he was stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Ben served with the U.S. Army in Germany during the Korean War with the 5th Army in a field radio unit. Following his military service, he entered college and the accountancy field, doing site work for a Minneapolis accounting firm. He moved his family to Springfield after taking a new position as the accountant at Ochs Brick and Tile from which he retired as its comptroller after more than 30 years. He enjoyed card games of all sorts, the outdoors, gardening, hunting, fishing, golf and rooting for his children and grandchildren at their sporting events. During his retirement he and Al traveled, visiting family and seeking out new adventures, which eventually led them to their winter haven in Al’s hometown in Louisiana. While there, he would hunt ducks, play golf and tinker on wood projects made from reclaimed cyprus. He made birdhouses, wood duck houses, plaques, crosses and chests, which he gave to family, friends and donated to many silent auctions.
He will be deeply missed by his beloved wife of 62 years, Alma “A;” their children, Dee (Ed) Gaudet, Dana (Lynn) Gorski, Danelle (Ken) Coutts and Paige (Steve) Browne; grandchildren, Josh (Allyson) Lang, Gerald (Paige) and Joe Gaudet, Brian and Gail Gorski, Ben and Sam Coutts, Isabel, Dashiell and Eleni Jo Browne; great-grandchildren, Niklas, Kayce and Sarah Lang, Jackson and Riley Gaudet; brother, Ed (Barb) Gorski; sister-in-law, Mary (Percy) Menard; brothers-in-law, Leonard Burnham, Harris (Nell) and Bobby (Jane) Baudoin, and his sister-in-law’s husband, Lester Duhon; a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and many friends.
He was preceded in death by grandson, Adam Gorski; parents, Cezaria and Adam Gorski; foster parents, Martha and Joe Kubes; sisters, Anne Gorski, Bernice (Stanley) Gorski, Eva (Gilbert) Hartman, Johanna (Andy) Olsonawski an Victoria Burnham; brothers, Joseph (Mary), John (Florence) and Carl (Mary) Gorski; sister-in-law, MaeOla Duhon.