Dan Benishek obit

Former U.S. Rep. Dan Benishek dies at age 69

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MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) - A former U.S. representative of the Upper Peninsula Dan Benishek has died at age 69.

According to his daughter, Benishek died Friday but the cause of death has not been confirmed at this time.

The republican leader represented Michigan’s 1st District until 2016 after serving three terms. He made veterans affairs one of his top priorities while serving.

His family released this statement:

“We are heartbroken by the sudden loss of a loyal friend, a loving husband, a dedicated grandfather, and a tireless advocate for Northern Michigan. As a doctor and surgeon, Dan saved countless lives in our community. His work in Congress made a difference for veterans across the country and protected Michigan’s natural wonders for years to come. He will always be remembered by his family and friends as a strong leader, a caring healer, and an unwavering patriot.”

Benishek was succeeded by U.S. Rep Jack Bergman in 2017.

Benishek was born in Iron River, Michigan, in 1952, the son of Helen (née Kovaleski) and Joseph Benishek. Three of his paternal great-grandparents were Bohemian (Czech) immigrants, while his maternal grandparents were Polish immigrants. His father was killed in local iron mines in 1957, so Benishek was raised by his widowed mother and extended family. He worked in the family business, the Iron River Hotel, until he went to college. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science in medicine. From there, he graduated from Wayne State University School of Medicine in 1978.

Prior to his election to Congress, he was a general surgeon in the Dickinson County Healthcare System. Benishek was inspired to run for Congress after the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was signed into law.

Benishek formally announced his candidacy for Congress on March 16, 2010, running against incumbent Democrat Bart Stupak. Stupak's vote in support of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act fueled an outpouring of support for Benishek, who had no Internet presence aside from a basic website on the day the bill was passed. He received more than $50,000 in unsolicited donations in the first 48 hours after Stupak's vote for the bill on March 21, 2010. "It's amazing, I just can't believe it," he said regarding the support he has received. "I need to use this momentum to repeal this health care bill and I'm going to do it. We're going to take over, the Republicans are going to regain the House of Representatives and we're going to repeal this health care bill." The American Spectator called him "The Most Popular Republican in America" on March 21, in the wake of Stupak's yea vote. Stupak announced his retirement on April 9, 2010. Benishek won the Republican primary against State Senator Jason Allen by 15 votes.

On November 2, 2010, in the general election, Dan Benishek defeated Democratic nominee State Representative Gary McDowell, Independent Glenn Wilson, Libertarian Keith Shelton, Green Ellis Boal, and UST Patrick Lambert. Benishek was sworn into office on January 5, 2011, as a member of the 112th United States Congress; he succeeded Bart Stupak.