Dr. Roxanne Benjamin, D.O., a beacon of love, healing, and laughter, peacefully passed away on February 20, 2024, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, strength, and a family who cherished her deeply. A true force of nature, she packed a lifetime of love into 77 years, touching countless lives with her compassion, energy, and positivity.
Born in Jackson, MI in March of 1946, to Arthur and Donna Jane Short, Roxanne was a long-term resident of the Rose City area. She graduated from Rose City High School in 1964 and married Daniel Benjamin that same year. Together they brought eight children into the world and Roxanne raised them to value right from wrong, work hard, and show respect and compassion to others, the environment, and all of God’s creatures.
Roxanne’s love for animals, especially horses, blossomed early, and she rode with the wind in her hair, nurturing a spirit as free and wild as the open range. She enjoyed the simple pleasures of farming and could frequently be found in the tractor cutting hay, cleaning out the barn, and mending fences. She was also an avid gardener and believed in being self-sufficient and living off the land.
But her passion didn’t stop at the pasture fence. Driven by an unwavering desire to heal, she embarked on a path that led her to become Dr. Roxanne, a physician dedicated to serving her community. In her white coat, she wasn’t just a doctor; she was a confidante, a friend, a lighthouse guiding patients through rough times with unwavering empathy and expertise.
Yet, her greatest accomplishment wasn’t found in accolades or medical breakthroughs. It was the family she built, a sprawling haven of love and laughter that mirrored the size of her own heart. As a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend, she nurtured, supported, and championed each member with fierce devotion. Her kitchen table echoed with lively conversations, her lap offered a safe haven for tears and joys alike, and her infectious humor filled every room with warmth.
Whether she was mending a broken bone, bandaging a wounded horse, or simply holding a hand through a difficult time, Roxanne did it all with a genuine warmth that made everyone feel loved and seen. Her absence leaves a void that can never be filled, but her memory will forever gallop through our hearts, reminding us to live with passion, laugh often, and love fiercely, just like she did.
Roxanne is survived by her husband: Daniel Benjamin of Rose City; her 8 children: Christopher (and Christa) Benjamin, Carina (and Dale) Ellis, Michael Benjamin, Alicia (and Jamie) Janisch, Rebecca Benjamin, David (and Rachel) Benjamin, Joseph (and Joni) Benjamin, and Jonathan Benjamin; her 17 grandchildren: Stephan (and Elizabeth) Ellis, Natasha (and Andrew) Thompson, Kassandra (and Chace) Tallent, Gabriel (and Katelin) Ellis, Zachary Ellis, James Janisch, Anna Janisch, Dane Norton, Austin Norton, Parker Benjamin, Kaleb Benjamin, Blake Benjamin, Brody Benjamin, Josie Burns, Remington Burns, Christine Benjamin, and Jack Martin; her 8 great-grandchildren: Emma Ellis, Caleb Ellis, Isabella Ellis, Tucker Ellis, Colten Thompson, Aura Ellis, Ryan Ellis, and Eli Ellis; siblings, Randy (and Jane) Short and Patricia Ward, and many nieces and nephews; and countless others whose lives she touched.
Roxanne was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Donna Jane Short, and her sister, Cynthia Short.
Visitation at Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home in West Branch, MI will begin on Friday, February 23, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. with visitation starting at 10:00 a.m. Pastor Mel Killinger will officiate. Burial will be at Oak Grove Cemetery in South Branch, MI.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to a charity of your choice in her honor. Roxanne was passionate about animals, historic and preservation societies, the Ogemaw County Fair, and her congregation at the Lupton Friends Church.
Online condolences can be shared at www.steuernolmclaren.com
