George Bernard Benner Jr.

08/31/2006

George Bernard Benner Jr., 47, of Park Street, Housatonic, died Thursday at Fairview Hospital. Born in Port Jefferson, N.Y., on Nov. 26, 1958, son of George Bernard Benner Sr. and Florence Fitzgerald Benner, he moved to Lee as a child and graduated from Lee High School. He attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute and received his bachelor of arts degree from Johnson State College in Vermont. For the past several years, Mr. Benner had been a chef at Barrington Brewery. Previously, he worked as a baker at The Marketplace. He played several musical instruments, most recently the bass guitar, and composed music and poetry. Besides his father, of Lake Elsinore, Calif., and his mother, of Stockbridge, he leaves three daughters, Amy Benner of Otis, Priscilla Benner of Housatonic and Joy Benner of Bennington, Vt.; a son, Nathan Benner of Bennington; two sisters, Kathryn Benner-Surdam of Lee and Dawn Farley of Housatonic, and two stepbrothers, Richard Zippel and Conroy Zippel, both of Sunny Valley, Ore. FUNERAL NOTICE -- The funeral for George Bernard Benner Jr. of Housatonic, who died Aug. 31, 2006, will be conducted Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2006, at 10 at Calvary Christian Chapel on Route 41 in Great Barrington. Burial will follow in Otis Center Cemetery. There will be no calling hours. Donations may be made out to George's sister Kathryn Benner-Surdam, which she will use for the benefit of his children, through FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. He also leaves two nephews, Stephen Lee Surdam and Connor Benner, and a niece, Ashley Benner. George will be greatly missed by his beloved friends at the Barrington Brewery. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevens.com.

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