Bensell

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 10:26 pm

I regret to inform the swamp community that Bensell has passed away.

No real details but here is the tributes page and it is from just a few weeks ago.

http://www.tributes.com/obituary/show/B ... -102973534" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Full obituary from he local paper

http://m.legacy.com/obituaries/kentucky ... view=false" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 10:41 pm

That sucks. Horrible news, but thanks for sharing.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 10:42 pm

Holy shit. That is so sad. He was a good dude. Damn.

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 10:43 pm

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 10:45 pm

Wow. No words. He have family?

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 10:48 pm

BSF21 wrote:Wow. No words. He have family?

Mom and dad and brother and some nephews. No wife or kids.

howard · Post by **howard** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 10:49 pm

How? Man, that is sad. Too damn young.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 10:50 pm

howard wrote:How? Man, that is sad. Too damn young.

Says after a short illness. Not much info at all. I can do some digging tomorrow.

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 10:50 pm

A_B wrote:
BSF21 wrote:Wow. No words. He have family?

Mom and dad and brother and some nephews. No wife or kids.

I should have just gone to bed. Feels like someone punched me in the gut and I didn't even know him that well. Damn.

L-Jam3 · Post by **L-Jam3** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 10:51 pm

Fuck, that's horrible. I can't say I knew him personally but he seemed like a stand-up guy. I'm really sad for his family. What the hell happened?

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 10:52 pm

A_B wrote:
BSF21 wrote:Wow. No words. He have family?
Mom and dad and brother and some nephews. No wife or kids.

And an ex-wife. Damn.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 10:54 pm

L-Jam3 wrote:Fuck, that's horrible. He's my age. What the hell happened?

The mind wanders but I will withold speculation. He had a rough life. Weird dude at times but his heart was in right place usually. He lived In Town but we only hung out 4-5 times. My curiosity will likely get he better of me tomorrow but for now I will let it lie.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 10:57 pm

Oh hell. Very sorry to hear this.

bfj · Post by **bfj** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 11:16 pm

RIP Ben. So sad.

howard · Post by **howard** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 11:17 pm

Thank you AB

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 11:20 pm

Thank you AB

So young! So sad I talked to him most during Swampcrashes.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Sun Nov 22, 2015 11:51 pm

What the fuck?

That is beyond awful. Holy hell - never met him but more than felt like I knew him. Just, fuck.

Post by **Shirley** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 1:38 am

Holy hell, that's awful. Man.

I don't know what to say.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 6:37 am

41? Jesus.

I hope that he is at peace, and that his family comes through this.

rass · Post by **rass** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 7:02 am

Shit.

Always came across as a nice, peaceful guy. Shit.

Johnny Carwash · Post by **Johnny Carwash** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 8:16 am

Ugh, what a shitty thing to wake up to. I know he had some serious difficulties with his family but he managed to be a positive guy here. RIP dude.

Sorry for you too, AB. Sounds like you knew him better than anyone here.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 8:38 am

Nothing to say here either. Fuck.

Post by **Sabo** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 8:51 am

AB texted me this news last night, and it still hasn't sunk in completely. It's always shocking to see someone die so young, but even more so when they're close to your age.

I met Bensell several times, and he was always a fun guy to be around. I'll always remember the first Swamp golf outing at Shaker Run Golf Course in Lebanon, Ohio, when Bensell - who probably played golf twice his entire life - would shout "Oh, COME ON!" after every shank and mishit shot he took. (I seem to remember his score that day was 136.)

His brother Josh is a thoroughbred horse trainer, and for a couple of years he trained horses at a farm outside Cincinnati. Ben worked at the farm as well, and I had the chance to meet him there a couple of times and hang out for a bit. While on the farm, you could see how much Ben loved being around horses. It was very cool to see him so happy while leading them around the paddock or doing whatever else needed to be done.

And there's a reason Ben posted so frequently in the reading threads. He ALWAYS had a book nearby. I once went to his condo in Lexington and was amazed by how many books he had, and how many he was in the process of reading. I've never known anyone who had such a voracious appetite for books.

Rest in peace, Ben. You will be missed.

duff · Post by **duff** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 8:55 am

Fuck.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 9:25 am

Jesus, wasn't expecting this despite knowing the title formats here. That's awful.

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 9:43 am

Ugh.

I hope he found peace.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 10:19 am

I'm at a complete loss for words. I never met Ben, but I feel sick over the news. Certainly didn't expect this when I clicked on the thread, I was expecting a call out since he hasn't posted in awhile. To those who knew him, any ideas of a pooled donation we can make in his honor, or something we could do for his family?

BSF21 · Post by **BSF21** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 10:21 am

The Sybian wrote:I'm at a complete loss for words. I never met Ben, but I feel sick over the news. Certainly didn't expect this when I clicked on the thread, I was expecting a call out since he hasn't posted in awhile. To those who knew him, any ideas of a pooled donation we can make in his honor, or something we could do for his family?

AB/Sabo would be the best people to ask. I asked up to and he apparently had no wife or children, so maybe something to his horse training place or another charitable contribution?

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 10:25 am

They wanted donations to God's Pantry Foodbank. It looks like the easiest way would be to go to their online page:

https://give.godspantry.org/give.now" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And I would suggest putting that it is in memory of Ben Mikesell in the comment box so that the family receives notice that donations were made.

Moreta · Post by **Moreta** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 10:47 am

My condolences to all of you who knew him. I lost a high school friend this week as well- only 40 years old. Such a shame.

Post by **brian** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 10:55 am

Sabo wrote:AB texted me this news last night, and it still hasn't sunk in completely. It's always shocking to see someone die so young, but even more so when they're close to your age.

I met Bensell several times, and he was always a fun guy to be around. I'll always remember the first Swamp golf outing at Shaker Run Golf Course in Lebanon, Ohio, when Bensell - who probably played golf twice his entire life - would shout "Oh, COME ON!" after every shank and mishit shot he took. (I seem to remember his score that day was 136.)

His brother Josh is a thoroughbred horse trainer, and for a couple of years he trained horses at a farm outside Cincinnati. Ben worked at the farm as well, and I had the chance to meet him there a couple of times and hang out for a bit. While on the farm, you could see how much Ben loved being around horses. It was very cool to see him so happy while leading them around the paddock or doing whatever else needed to be done.

And there's a reason Ben posted so frequently in the reading threads. He ALWAYS had a book nearby. I once went to his condo in Lexington and was amazed by how many books he had, and how many he was in the process of reading. I've never known anyone who had such a voracious appetite for books.

Rest in peace, Ben. You will be missed.

Well said. AB, Bensell and I all got together one night in Lexington. I don't remember much except that we all had quite a few drinks, a good time and he was a really nice guy.

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 10:57 am

This really sucks. I can't even count how many books I've read because of him. RIP, Ben.

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 11:05 am

Damn....

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 11:34 am

This sucks. Spoke a few times, didn't make that 2 hour detour to meet him, but still felt like I knew him. Great guy.

Was wondering why he hadn't posted in the reading threads for awhile.

I understand losing people from here, but we've lost two to their maker and that makes me really sad.

phxgators · Post by **phxgators** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 11:45 am

Wow... Horrible news

HaulCitgo · Post by **HaulCitgo** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 12:33 pm

Condolences to his family. I will make a donation. Might also suggest some sort of group gesture. Maybe we don't get it up and running now but sooner or hopefully later someone will have to start another thread for one of us and I think those left behind might appreciate a well written note that his/her life touched some semi anonymous internet friends.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 12:42 pm

Counterpoint: I think some people would prefer posthumous anonymity for their posts versus us calling ourselves out by name

(Like my wife knows about this, I imagine she doesn't read because she has zero interest in it. I'm not sure my mom needs to view my legacy of dick jokes.)

HaulCitgo · Post by **HaulCitgo** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 12:44 pm

Excellent point. We need not call ourselves out my name though.

rass · Post by **rass** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 12:46 pm

Anonymous donation, c/o fuck Romero

ETA: wrong Ed!!!

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Nov 23, 2015 12:52 pm

Sad news. Can't say I ever met him in person, but always read what he had to say.

Just a little tribute that I am capable of doing...
Bensell Premier League FFL