Benjamin Michael Sunderman was born on March 15, 1986, in Longview, Wash., the son of Michael and Lennette (Wagner) Sunderman. He was raised in Madison and attended District 48 before attending Madison Public Schools. He also attended Boys Town for a year.
 

During high school, Ben began working in the lawn care business. Later, he moved to the state of Washington, where he owned and operated a lawn care and landscaping business. In May of 2013, Ben returned to Nebraska and worked in commercial construction in Grand Island and Lincoln, then at Divots and recently started his own property preservation business in Norfolk.
 

Ben enjoyed all indoor and outdoor sports, especially basketball, hunting and hanging out with family and friends. The most important thing to him though was being an involved and loving father.
 

He was a wonderful dad, a very loyal friend, a caring son and brother and continually searched for peace in his own life, as well as with his family and friends. He was personable, outgoing, a friend to all and professional in how he approached his work.
 

Ben worked hard to look at the positive side of situations, feeling that eventually everything would work out for the best. He really enjoyed writing, especially about his Christian faith, everyday experiences and his thoughts on how to live life.
 

Ben is survived by two children, Madison and Brendan; his parents, Lennette Sunderman of Duluth Minn., and Mike and Cathy Sunderman of Norfolk: one brother, Jake and his spouse Carrie Sunderman of Omaha; two stepbrothers, Collin Gaughenbaugh and Chase Gaughenbaugh, both of Norfolk; his grandparents, Richard and Shirley Sunderman of Chambers and Neil and Jeanne Wagner of Champlin, Minn.: plus aunts, uncles and many cousins.