OSHKOSH, WI, US U.S. Army CPT, HHC, 983D ENGINEER BN (MNC-I), MONCLOVA, OH 07/27/2005, AL TAQADDUM, IRAQ
So calm and strong was Benjamin D. Jansky that even a man of the cloth took to calling him Gentle Ben. Jansky, 28, of Oshkosh, Wis., died July 27 in Taqaddum when his vehicle was accidentally struck by another military vehicle. He was assigned to Monclova.
“He placed a high value on why he was in Iraq and believed in it very strongly, yet he had torn feelings,” said Joe Grier, the pastor of Grace Chapel who gave Jansky his nickname. “He really didn”t like being away from his family, and he didn”t like being in unfamiliar territory. But he never complained about the sacrifice.”
Jansky was a stay-at-home dad while his wife taught special education at a middle school. The couple met while both attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. They were married in 1998. He is survived by his wife, Kate, and two daughters, Emma, 3, and Reyna, just shy of 1 year old.
Jansky was a devoted Chicago Cubs fan who loved baseball and reading. He and his wife worked to establish a ministry program for college students. “Kids knew they could stop at Ben and Kate”s house anytime, and eat or study,” Grier said. “They were just fantastic for those kids.”
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