Benjamin E. Ben Cornelius, 87, of Grand Island, NE, died Tuesday, October 20, 2015, at CHI Health St. Francis. Memorial services will be Friday, October 23, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church. The Rev. Scott Taylor will officiate. Inurnment will be in Ft. McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, NE at a later date. Bens wishes were to be cremated, there is no visitation. Curran Funeral Chapel is assisting the family. Ben was born October 7, 1928, at Grand Island, Nebraska. He was the son of Paul and Rose (Moeller) Cornelius. Survivors of the immediate family include his wife of 41 years, Fay Cornelius of Grand Island, NE Daughter and son-in-law, Jan and Rick Pelland of Grand Island, NE Step son, Marvin Broeder of Hershey, NE Step daughter and step son-in-law, Debbie and Tim Mason of Buffalo, WY Brother, Archie Cornelius of Grand Island, NE Others left to cherish his memory include his grandchildren, Laura Kelsay, Matt (Kerri) Kelsay, Eric Pelland, Erin (Darsha) Pelland, Patricia Broeder, Kendra Grove, Alisha Mason, Jeremy (Tawnia) Mason, Joshua (Julia) Mason, and 12 great grandchildren. Ben grew up in Chapman, graduating from Chapman High School in 1946. He entered the U.S. Army on 4.12.51, serving in the Korean War until his honorary discharge on 4.11.53. He returned to Chapman where he worked on the family farm living in the old home. He married Elsie Fay (Young) Broeder on March 5, 1974, at Hasting, NE. They lived in Grand Island. He was employed with Redman Homes, Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant, and later managed the Grand Island Eagles Club for many years. He then worked for Monfort of Colorado as a cattle pen worker at the Grand Island facility retiring in 1995 after 11 years of service. He was a farmer at heart and loved to garden. He and Fay spent their summers canning most everything they grew. Memorials are suggested to the familys choice. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Jerry Cornelius and a sister, Maxine Livingston. Online condolences may be given at www.curranfuneralchapel.com under Bens obituary.