Benjaman Ben Czaplewski, 87, of Grand Island, NE, died Sunday March 20, 2011, at Tiffany Square Care Center. Services will be Thursday, March 24, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. The Rev. Mark A. Maresh will officiate. Burial will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery with military honors provided by the United Veterans Honor Guard and the U.S. Marine Corps Honor Team. Visitation will be Wednesday, March 23, 2011, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church with a vigil service at 7:00 p.m. Curran Funeral Chapel is assisting the family. Mr. Czaplewski was born on June 29, 1923, at Loup City, Nebraska. He was the son of Ben & Angeline Nellie (Mendyk) Czaplewski. Survivors of the immediate family include his wife, Muritta (Borowiak) Czaplewski of Grand Island, NE Five daughters and three sons in law, Kathleen Beran of Lincoln, NE Deborah and Patrick Maloy of Lincoln NE Lori and Shawn Albert of Holdrege, NE Kimberly and Ron Bender of Grand Island, NE Mary Lynne Czaplewski of Grand Island, NE Four sons and daughters-in-law: Wayne and Ginny Czaplewski of Lincoln, NE Brian and Lori Czaplewski of Quincy IL Jeffry and Mary Czaplewski of Grand Island NE Bradley and Sue of Grand Island, NE A sister Dorothy Wackjus of Fresno CA Three brothers and six sisters-in-law, Alfred of Lincoln, NE Anthony and Vonnie of Saint Paul, NE Thomas and Sandy of Lincoln, NE Loreen and Arvada Czaplewski of Grand Island, NE Betty Czaplewski of Loup City, NE Diane Czaplewski of Houston. TX Additional survivors include twenty three grandchildren, Gregory, Julia, Jill, Stephanie, Benjamin, Daniel, Logan, Rachel, Rocky, Jared, Marisa, Tyler, Tiffany, Aleece, John, Ilyssa, Lauren, Kendra, Jessica, Heather, Bradley, Carly and Scott. Eleven great grandchildren, Danyel, Mckenzie, Kristin, Jaden, Garen, Kadin, Quinn, Cloey. Layne, Gideon and Kendall. Mr. Czaplewski attended the Loup City Public School, St. Josaphats Parochial School, and graduated from Loup City High School in 1941. He then attended Vocational School in Kearney, NE. After graduation, he worked for the Armour Packing Plant in Omaha. On November 18, 1942, during WWII, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served with Headquarters, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific (FMF-PAC) until his discharge on October 25, 1945. He re-enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served during the Korean Conflict from 1949 1951. He married Muritta Borowiak on Sepember 3, 1949, at St. Josaphats Catholic Church in Loup City, NE. They lived in Loup City, San Francisco and Grand Island. In Loup City, he worked for the H & L Supply Company (John Deere) and then for the Sherman County Times. Upon moving to Grand Island in 1960, he worked for commercial printers, the Augustine Printing Company and the Albee Printing Company until his retirement in 1992. Mr. Czaplewski was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church, Blessed Sacrament Perpetual Adoration, served on Blessed Sacrament Parish Council, Co-Editor of Blessed Sacrament parish Newspaper, Life Honorary Member of the Third & Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus, Past Faithful Navigator of the Knights of Columbus, Grand Island NE. Life Member of the United States Marine Corps Association, Life Member of Disabled American Veterans, Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post #1347, Member of the American Legion Post #48, past Sergeant at Arms American Legion Post 48, Loup City, NE. , member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Platt-Duetsche Society. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Angeline (Mendyk) Czaplewski, five brothers, Robert, Louis, Richard, James, and Ronald, a brother in law, Mike Wajckus, two sisters in law, Bonnie and Ruth Czaplewski, and his wifes parents Leo and Mary Borowiak. Memorials are suggested to Blessed Sacrament Church, Central Catholic High School or Aseracare Hospice. On line condolences may be directed to the family at www.curranfuneralchapel.com.