Benjamin "Ben" H. Little

PORTAGE – Benjamin “Ben” H. Little, age 90, of Portage, died peacefully after a brief illness with his wife by his side.  Ben was born and raised in Portage, where he met and married the former Doris Mae Marquardt at the Presbyterian Parsonage in Portage on June 27th, 1944.  Ben and Doris celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in June at their home with family.

Ben and Doris built their home on the hill behind her parent’s house. Ben’s hard work and dedication carried on for 30 years as a successful entrepreneur, a talented tradesman, and an active member of the community. Ben ran three successful businesses: Little Heating & Electric, Shady Oaks Campground (Markesan), and Kitchen Solvers. Respected in his field, Ben served as the President of the Wisconsin Association of Campground Owners (WACO) Board. Ben was also civic minded as a charter member of the Portage Lions club.

After Ben retired, he and Doris continued to reside in Portage, with time spent traveling, camping, and boating. Ben was the son of the Portage Telephone Company founder, which gave him a life-long passion for new technology. From the phone in his childhood 1920’s playhouse, to the first color television in town, to first beta video camera and VCR, Ben was often found inventing, building, or utilizing technology. As a curious learner and avid videographer, Ben was interested in Portage history, and chronicled five generations of the Little family life in his videos. Ben helped preserve the Portage Library’s and the Portage Historical Society’s collections of 1800 historical photographs by scanning and transferring to a digital format.

All who knew him recognized that above all, family and friends were the most important to Ben. He will be remembered as a family patriarch, with a warm smile, a quick sense of humor, and a guiding presence. Ben was a man of character, who cared for his wife during a long illness, with patience and compassion. He was a strong and gentle man.

Ben is survived by his wife, Doris; his daughter, Cheryl Wenker, and her husband Jon; and their two children and their families, Michael (Karen) Semonson with children, Spencer and Holden; Mark (Tracey) Semonson with children, Jordan, Jake, Michael and Nicki; and many loving nieces and nephews. Ben was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Lydia; his brothers, Bill and Bob; his sister, Helen; his nieces, Jane and Jackie; and his great-granddaughter, Taylor.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at Columbia Healthcare Center, 323 W Monroe St., in Wyocena, WI. In the chapel, friends and family may call from 12:30- 1:30pm with a celebration of Ben’s life beginning at 1:30 pm. A private burial will be at a later time. The Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage is assisting the family.

The family would like to thank Russell Stensrud, Connie Mair, and Sherry Bornick for helping make life a little easier for Ben.

We’ll miss you Dad & Grandpa … the legacy you left will continue to grow in all of us~