Patrick Maurice Bentz, better known as “Otto” to his family and friends, was called to his final rest at 11 p.m. Monday, May 18, 2026. He passed on to his eternal rest after an eight-yearlong battle with several reoccurring cancers, as a result of his exposure to Agent Orange while serving with distinction as a corporal with the United States Marine Corps in the highlands of Vietnam.
Patrick was born Dec. 16, 1947, in Shawano to the late Maurice C. Bentz and Marian Elizabeth (Harris) Bentz.
Patrick lived his early life in Shawano, attending Sacred Heart Catholic, Shawano Junior High and Shawano Senior High School, graduating with the class of 1967. After his service with the Marines, he worked for 35-plus years as a maintenance engineer with the Kimberly-Clark Corporation in Neenah.
After his retirement, Patrick moved to Arizona for a number of years before returning to Shawano in 2019.
Patrick will be remembered as a man dedicated to his family, his love of camping and the outdoors, and his devotion to those in need, especially to his fellow veterans. In his later years, he loved recounting the tales of his youth driving his 1956 Chevy through the mooseyards with his lifelong buddy, “Faz.”
Patrick was preceded in death by his wife, Karen Bentz; his parents, Maurice and Marian Bentz; and one infant half-brother, Maurice Bentz.
Patrick is survived by his daughter, Rebecca, and son-in-law, Aaron Foster, of Winona, Minnesota; daughter, Rachel, of Shawano; son, Bernard, of Forest Lake, Minnesota. He is further survived by his siblings, Jeffrey (Carol) of Shawano, Gregory of Green Bay, Rosemary of Shawano, Maureen of Shawano, Michael (Lota) of Shawano and Jennifer Bentz-Kriewaldt of Shawano; as well as numerous cousins, in-laws, nieces and nephews.
Per Patrick’s request, a private family graveside service will be conducted at the Holy Family Catholic Cemetery in Mattoon. A celebration of Patrick’s life will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Stubborn Brothers in the upstairs ballroom.
www.swedbergfuneralhome.com
