Daniel James Benningfield

Daniel “Dan” James Benningfield, born June 1, 1954, passed away on April 3, 2026, after a hard-fought and good-natured battle with cancer.

Dan, known to many as “Mr. B” or “Bennett,” lived in Hastings, Michigan for the latter half of his life. Born in Detroit and raised in Royal Oak, Grand Rapids, and Holland, Dan’s easy-going and amiable disposition allowed him to make friends wherever he went. After he graduated from West Ottawa High School, he went to Michigan State University, cheering on his beloved Spartans; having what he described as “probably too much fun” with friends in Mayo Hall; and most importantly of all, wooing his future wife, Michelle. He managed to fit in a degree in education, which took the newlyweds to Killeen, Texas, to teach and begin their family, welcoming Andy and Molly. A job in Sunfield brought them back to Michigan and their home in Hastings, where they would welcome Emily.

Dan was a beloved teacher and found his niche at Hastings Middle School, where fart jokes and slapstick humor reigned supreme. He took the role seriously, and his free time even more so, with many lifelong friendships made with colleagues and summer breaks enjoyed to the fullest.

For many years, Dan tinkered and toiled to make their house a home, sweating through numerous t-shirts and muttering a multitude of curse words. Their home and backyard on West Grand was the gathering place, from holidays where Dan loved to cook and host family to kids’ sleepovers and late nights around the kitchen island to backyard shindigs for birthdays and anniversaries—anything for a celebration and good time. Dan loved to share his space with others. He worked tirelessly on the backyard throughout the years, growing a prolific vegetable garden every summer, tending to flowers and trees, and even building a treehouse for his grandchildren. A giant lit-up peace sign he built and placed atop the garage one Christmas served as a familiar beacon in the neighborhood. He made his home a special one.

Dan’s commitment to his family and friends was unparalleled. If you needed anything—be it a tire changed, ride home, fence built, wood chopped, a helping hand of any magnitude—Dan was your man. He cared deeply and showed it through acts of service, befitting of his tireless nature and many hobbies.

An enthusiastic fan of many sports, Dan loved to cheer on the MSU Spartan basketball team, the Big 4 Detroit teams, and his kids’ teams. He coached often, but especially loved being in the stands, from Fifth Third Ballpark to the Breslin. He loved to throw the ball around, enjoyed many years of weekly golf, and was one of the main instigators of Hot Can during summer Brown family reunions, where he enjoyed another favorite pastime: camping with his family. Dan’s campsites were immaculate, precisely chosen and kept tidy, with no details spared. In their retired life, Dan and Michelle took their Casita trailer around the country.

Dan is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Michelle (ma belle) of Hastings; his children, son, Andy of Bear Lake; and daughters, Molly (AJ) of Grand Rapids and Emily (Dan) of Kalamazoo; grandchildren, Addison, Nora, Quinn, Teddy, and Margot; mother, Janet Benningfield of Holland; sisters, Barb Kalkman of Lafayette, California, and Nancy Benningfield of Holland; and a host of close family and great friends. Dan was preceded in death by his father, Robert Benningfield; his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Timmer; his father-in-law, Robert Timmer; and his friend and brother-in-law, Ken Topp. To say we’ll be lost without Dan (literally and figuratively) is an understatement.

A celebration of Dan’s life will take place on May 2. Information regarding time and location to follow. Arrangements by Girrbach Funeral Home. To leave an online condolence, visit www.girrbachfuneralhome.net.