Obituary of Rod K. Benedickson

Rod Benedickson passed away at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick on August 15, 2018 at the age of 62 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Rod resided in Polk City, Fl for the last 3 years, prior to retiring to Florida, Rod resided in Edison, Piscataway and Clinton, NJ. Born in East Orange, NJ to the late Henry and Betty Benedickson (Hager), Rod grew up in Edison, NJ. After high school, Rod joined the Auxiliary Police and soon after became a member of the Edison Police Department. Rod served on the force for 27 years, retiring in 2004. Rod was a patrolman for the majority of his career, but also was a proud member of the Mounted Patrol for the police department for several years. Members of the community may also remember Rod as Santa Claus; for many years, he played Santa to the children at the Cerebral Palsy Center in Edison, passing out gifts on the behalf of the Edison PBA. Rod was an entrepreneur, owning and operating several side businesses through his years. In his youth, Rod owned a landscaping company, and later started Countryside Excavating and Countryside Tree Experts which is now owned by his son, Shawn. Rod enjoyed many hobbies and had a love of horses which led to his ownership of Countryside Acres Horses Farm in Clinton for many years. Additionally, he was a motorcycle enthusiast and was a member of the Blue Knights Motorcycle Club of Middlesex County. He also was a member of the Lacey Twp. Elks. Rod enjoyed frequenting car and boat shows. In his retirement, Rod traveled extensively with his wife, Maryanne, in their motor home often visiting his family and friends in NJ for extended periods. Above all else, Rod was a proud father and grandfather and enjoyed spending time with his family, frequenting his grandson's baseball games and spending time outdoors with the kids and his german shepherd, Tara. Rod was preceded in death by his wife's son; Jeffrey Schlinger. Surviving to cherish his memory is a large blended family including his wife of 22 years, Maryanne, three children, and three stepchildren; Krista Anderson (Matthew), Shawn Benedickson (Gerry Walls), Craig Benedickson (Jessica Anderson), John Schlinger (Shannon), Kathie Pace, daughter-in-law, Mary Schlinger, siblings; Lynn Benedickson, Lori Coyle, Scott Benedickson (Alison), Susan Nieroda (Steve) and grandchildren; Nicole, Justin, Gavin, Madelyn, Damian, Kenneth, Norah, Thomas, Timothy, Johnnie, Jack, Nicole, Erika, Jeffrey, Julia, Bobby, Alex and Andy, his great-grandson Riley Cool, his former wife Mary E. Benedickson, Aunts; Marlene and Lorraine, Uncles; Al and Arty; Nephews; Scott, Stephen and Kayden; Nieces; Michele, Kristin, Carissa and Madison as well as many extended family members and friends. All are invited to join together for mass and a memorial gathering at 10:00 am on Monday, August 20th at Sacred Heart Church, 200 Randolph Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ 07080. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations to the Lustgarten Foundation, 415 Crossways Park Dr. Suite D, Woodbury NY 11797 or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in Rod's name.