Benjamin R Bosman

Benjamin R. Bosman, age 88, of Dyer, formerly of Holland, MI, passed away on Thursday, July 16, 2026. Beloved husband of 62 years of the late Lois Bosman, nee Rottschafer. Loving father of Duane (Roxanne) Bosman, Carolyn (Ken) De Jong, Ken (Jill) Bosman, Dean (Linda) Bosman, and Steve (late Iaci) Bosman. Cherished grandfather of Brent (Holly) Bosman, Bonnie (Blake) Williams, Becky Bosman, Amanda (Mike) Kakol, Heather (Brennen) Hueftlein, Tyler Bosman, Jonathan (Katie) De Jong, Noah (Christina) Bosman, Joshua De Jong, Sara Bosman, Nathanael Bosman, Elise (Ian) Richards, Rachel Bosman, Abigail De Jong, Alex (fiancée Jenna O’Brien) Bosman, Amy Bosman, and Jennifer Bosman. Great-grandfather of Hayley & Taylor Bosman, Aria & Gideon Williams, Benjamin & Noelle Bosman, Hannah & Declan De Jong, and Kya, Jack, and Lukas Hueftlein. Dear brother of George (late Carolyn) Bosman. Kind uncle of several nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents Benjamin J. and Bertha Bosman.

Benjamin Richard Bosman was a child of God, who lived a very full and active life, always doing and making things. His profession was in hauling refuse out of downtown Chicago, running a successful business with his family for many years. He also was an avid craftsman, shaping materials into many different things, including complex wood carvings. One love of his was distributing carved praying hands inscribed in a number of different languages and giving them to people wherever he would go, as a testimony to God's work in his life. He excelled above all things in generosity to all kinds of people and loved his family deeply to the end of his life.

Ben was born in Chicago in 1938 and grew up in Englewood, attending Chicago Christian School. In 1956, he entered the Navy, becoming a Seabee stationed in Barbados building an oceanographic research facility. He left the service due to an injury from a plane crash and returned to Chicago. There, he worked as a scavenger, eventually buying Associated Refuse Disposal, which he ran with his family. In 1959, he married Lois Rottschafer, moving from Cicero to Thornton in 1961. He, Lois, and his growing family were members of Cottage Grove Christian Reformed Church for many years, where he was especially involved with the young men of the congregation in the cadet corps. After retirement, they moved to northern Michigan, where he avidly pursued his passions in woodcarving and fishing. He lived in Michigan until the passing of his wife, Lois, when he returned to the Chicago area to be with his family.

Visitation Friday, July 24, 2026, from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at Smits Funeral Home, 2121 Pleasant Springs Lane (Rt.30/Pleasant Springs Ln.) Dyer, IN. Visitation also Saturday, July 25, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. until time of the funeral service at 10:30 a.m. (CST) directly at Bethel Church, 3500 Glenwood Lansing Rd, Lansing, IL 60438 with Rev. Kyle Beckrich officiating. Burial will take place Monday, July 27, 2026 at Graafschap Cemetery—Holland, MI at 11:00 a.m. (EST).

Memorial contributions may be given to Ebenezer Christian School of Ellsworth, Michigan (www.ebenezerchristian.org).

For further information, please contact 219-322-7300 or visit our online obituary and guestbook at www.SMITSFH.com