Benjamin R. Kollock, 34

Benjamin R. Kollock, 34, passed away September 12, 2022, after a courageous 8-and-a-half-year battle with cancer, with his devoted wife, Katie, by his side.

Ben was born May 8, 1988, to Michelle Lordson and Timothy Kollock. He attended SPASH and graduated from UWSP with bachelor’s degrees in urban forestry and forest recreation. Ben was employed at AIG – TravelGuard in Stevens Point for the last 15 years. He married Katie Baumann, on May 4, 2014, in Merrill, Wis.

Ben was a beloved staple in the local music community, playing in several notable area bands including Wrath of the Girth, and eventually organizing the annual Stevens Point music festival, Jam’n’July. Ben dedicated himself tirelessly to Stevens Point in many other ways including community activism and wildlife preservation. He spearheaded many local efforts to promote biodiversity, protect animal life, and decriminalize marijuana.

Ben was also passionate about native plants which led him to open Northpoint Natives, a business that helped people plant native flowers, shrubs, and trees.

Ben was also an active member of the Town of Hull Water Committee and hoped to continue forwarding legislation to better his community for years to come.

Survivors include his wife Katie, mother Michelle Lordson, father Timothy Kollock, Brother Jessi (Amanda Wherritt) Lordson, grandparents Bob and Pat Kollock and Veronica “Sue” Hagan, father and mother-in-law Tony and Roxanne Bauman, brother-in-law Geoffrey Baumann, as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, October 9, 2022, in the Laird Room at the Dreyfus Center on the UWSP Campus. Doors will open at 1 p.m. with a remembrance service at 1:30, followed by a gathering and visitation until 5 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Green Circle Endowment Fund in Ben’s name.