Benjamin “Ben” Maes
Benjamin “Ben” Andrew Maes, passed from this life to eternal life with God on March 10, 2022, at home in Champaign, IL at the age of 34 years. Ben was born to Rich and Holly (Larson) Maes on February 17, 1988, in Milwaukee. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Green Bay where Ben was raised and lived most of his life. He attended MacArthur Elementary School, Lombardi Middle School and graduated from Southwest High School with the Class of 2006. He was involved in several sports during his youth, including baseball, wrestling, football, rugby and cheerleading. He attended UWGB and worked at Walmart while going to school. In 2013 Ben moved to Illinois to help his parents and care for them during a prolonged period of ill health for Holly. He was an extremely dutiful son and cared for everyone who crossed his path.
Ben had many friends and was the type of guy who would give you the shirt off his back and his last dime. He loved children and animals, and some of his happiest moments were playing Santa for sick kids at the local hospitals. He always thought of others first, often neglecting his own needs. He was a religious man and was a 3rd degree Knight of Columbus in Danville, Illinois. He adored his nieces and nephews.
Ben is survived by his parents, Richard E. Maes Jr and Dr. Holly Maes; three sisters: Christina (Joel) Joski, Green Bay; Rachel Maes (fiancée Danielle Kraak), Green Bay; Elizabeth (Alex) VanDamme, Chilicothe, IL; his beloved goddaughter and niece, Bryn Maes and his adored nieces and nephews: Richie Maes, Ginny Joski, Ray Joski and Gemma Maes. He is also survived by his very special friend since childhood, Ryan Wenzlick.
Ben was preceded in death by his grandparents, Dick and Anne (Steeno) Maes and Ray and Shirley (Behnke) Larson; his Godfather Mark Larson; his precious and loved Godmother Susan Maes; and his cousin Brandon Maes.
Visitation will be at the Proko-Wall funeral home on Thursday, March 17, from 4:00-8:00 pm. The visitation will begin with a with a rosary service at 4:00 pm and ending with a parish wake service at 7:30 pm. Visitation will continue Friday at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 1484 Ninth St. from 9:00-10:15 am Mass of Christian Burial 10:30am Friday at the church with Rev. Patrick Beno and Rev. Richard Getchel concelebrating. Burial will be at Allouez Catholic Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to the Maes family at www.prokowall.com. In lieu of floral expressions memorials can be made to Green Botanical Gardens where Ben volunteered many hours, to any animal shelter to honor his intense love of God’s creatures, to St. Agnes Church in Green Bay or to St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Danville, IL.
Be with God son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend.