Ben Daam

As family and friends gather to reflect on the overflowing life of Benjamin Daam, it is easy to see both his unyielding strength and his unconditional devotion to his loved ones. He made the most of every single moment, never taking a single blessing for granted. Nothing brought Ben greater joy than spending time with his family. His strong work ethic and deep respect for all those he met served him well throughout his entire life. Dearly loved, Ben will be forever missed.

The late 1950s were among some of the most exciting years to be alive. Humanity rose to new heights with space exploration, and rock and roll music took the world by storm. It was during this influential time that Donald and Maryln (Kuempel) Daam of Kalamazoo, Michigan, were awaiting the arrival of their fourth child. On New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1959, Benjamin made his entrance into the world, welcomed by his adoring parents and three older brothers.

Growing up, Ben was a typical young man of his generation in many ways. He was raised in the family home on Primrose Lane in Portage, alongside his brothers, Gordon, Rick, and Jack. Ben began building the firm foundation of his faith as a boy, and at the young age of seven, he gave his life to Jesus Christ at Oakwood Bible Church. Throughout his childhood, he attended Portage Public schools and at the age of 15, Ben and his brother Jack joined an all-male cycling group called deCycles out of Hartford City, Indiana. The group rode 3,600 miles in July of 1975. They started in Hartford, rode north into Michigan along the lake coast. They rode in the Cherry Festival Parade in Traverse City for the 4th of July, then on to Mackinaw and over the bridge to Sault Ste. Marie. Then on to Marquette, Duluth, over Lake Superior by way of Hearst Ontario, then to Niagara Falls, New York, then through Pennsylvania, Ohio and back to Hartford. Ben also enjoyed exploring the building trades while in high school, developing skills that would come in handy later.

Exciting changes were in store for Ben as he met the woman who would forever hold the key to his heart. Her name was Brenda, and the two first met at youth group at Lake Center Bible Church. Brenda was singing in a production, and she immediately caught Ben’s eye. She was quickly charmed by his good humor and contagious laugh, and the rest was history. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives as husband and wife, Ben and Brenda were married on September 15, 1979, at Oakwood Bible Church. This was the beginning of a strong and loving union that would last for the next 45 years. They complemented each other perfectly and always faced challenges together, leaning on each other in times of need.

There was nothing that was more important to Ben in life than his family. Over the years, he and Brenda were overjoyed to welcome their three oldest children, Andrea, Jeff, and Karen, into their hearts and home. Ben thrived in his role as a father, and he strove to care for and provide for his children. He used his construction experience to help build/renovate several of the families’ homes over the years. It was important to him and Brenda that they raise their children in their Christian faith. Ben’s family was his biggest motivation, and he did everything for them without any complaint.

Ben was willing to work hard all throughout his life. In 1970 his father got a job at Upjohn where both Ben and his brother, Jack, would later come to work. He remained a steady force at the company through the changes in ownership but eventually settled down at Zoetis, where he would close out the remainder of his 37-year career. Ben worked primarily as a formulation specialist, even helping manufacture Rogaine and Revolution. He made sure everything was up to standard and was well-respected by his coworkers for his extensive knowledge. Ben was a trusted and valued employee and now his oldest son carries on his legacy at the company.

Once their older children were grown, Ben and Brenda felt called to open their arms to fostering. They fostered several kids and were blessed to adopt two, Brodie and Lexi. The Daam family attended church regularly and often enjoyed camping around Michigan, New York and several weeks out west. They also enjoyed the beach in South Haven and St. Joe with friends and family. Fourth of July was often celebrated with family at his aunt’s cottage in Door County, Wisconsin. Later in life, Ben was thrilled to become a grandfather to Ethan, Emery, Irelyn, Eden, Mila, Kyleigh, Brielle, Drake, and Isaiah. He was affectionately called “Papa,” and he loved taking the grandkids camping for cousin camp. Ben always considered himself fortunate to be surrounded by so many loved ones.

Never one to sit still for long, Ben pursued many hobbies to stay busy in his free time. He loved boating, and he would get out on the water whenever he could. The Daam family would rent a cottage on Torch Lake until their family grew too big for it. They loved kayaking, tubing, wake surfing, and hanging out at the Torch Lake sandbar. One of the highlights of Ben’s life was buying a speedboat. This fueled an interest in going to boat shows or just boat watching from the shoreline. Ben loved to laugh with his family and his sense of humor was something he passed on to each of his kids. No matter the hobby or activity, he was happiest when spending time with his family.

With a journey that spanned times of plenty and want, times of war and peace, Benjamin Daam made sure to always hold his loved ones close. His compassionate heart allowed him to impact the lives of countless others for the better, and he was a shining example of loyalty and honesty. A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Ben never wavered in his love for his family and took excellent care of those he loved. He could bring a smile to anyone’s face. Though he will be deeply missed, Ben will forever be remembered as a hardworking and selfless pillar in the lives of all who knew him.

Benjamin Daam of Mattawan, age 65, died on March 10, 2025. Ben was born December 31, 1959 in Kalamazoo to Donald and Maryln (Kuempel) Daam who precede him in death. Surviving are his wife, Brenda; children: Andrea (Jared) Nordblom, Jeff (Jessie) Daam, Karen (Dan) Martinez, Brodie Daam, and Lexi Daam; grandchildren: Ethan, Emery, Irelyn, Eden, Mila, Kyleigh, Brielle, Drake, Isiah; brothers: Gordon (Denise) Daam, Rick (Penny) Daam, and Jack (Debra) Daam; step-mother, Lois Daam; and many nieces and nephews.

Please join us at a Life Story Visitation on Friday, March 14, from 3-7 PM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900. A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, March 15, at 11 AM at Berean Baptist Church. Private burial.

Celebrate Ben’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on his dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. Memorial contributions may be made to Christ Fellowship Church or Berean Baptist Church.