Ben F. Hughes, 77, was born Aug. 9, 1948, in Lincoln, to Ben A. and Martha (Coufal) Hughes and passed away unexpectedly in Seward on Sept. 12, 2025.
Ben grew up in Seward, graduating in 1966. He attended Kearney State and Southeast Community College with a degree in Architectural Technology. He served two years in the Army, then lived in Colorado and Washington. He returned to Nebraska in the early 1980s following the passing of his first wife.
Over the years, Ben worked a wide variety of jobs, including as housepainter, firefighter, and as draftsman. He worked for the City of Seward before starting a long career in Human Resources at Hughes Brothers. The best part for Ben was time with his “guys” – Matt Stryson, John Hughes, and Ted Hughes – more like brothers than cousins. Daily lunches together continued even after he retired.
Ben and Carolyn began their life together in 1985, eventually marrying at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Seward on Nov. 30, 2002. Becoming a dad to Julie and later a grandpa to Sadie and Jack was an unanticipated joy to him. They had his heart in a way he never thought possible.
Ben was creative and talented all his life – tinkering on vehicles, felling trees in the forests of Washington to build a log cabin, doing historical re-enacting, photography, building/repairing/riding bicycles (free of charge for kids), building and running model train layouts, and gardening (especially very hot peppers). He was determined (sometimes stubbornly so) and willing to take on any project that Carolyn requested (not one, but two potting sheds, play equipment for the kids, and many house and garden projects). He was also an avid crossword puzzler.
He was a wonderful, caring, and funny guy. One of a kind. We are forever richer having shared this life with him.
Ben is survived by his wife, Carolyn; daughter, Julie (John) Owens; grandchildren, Sadie and Jack of Seward; mother-in-law, Elaine Vrana of Seward; brothers-in-law, Verlon Vrana of Richmond, Virginia, Tim (Laura) Vrana of Columbus, Indiana, and Jon (Mary) Vrana of Fairfax, Virginia; nieces, Heather Vrana of Gainesville, Florida, Maggie Vrana (Zachariah) of Chicago, Illinois, and Anna Vrana of Fairfax; nephew, Tony Vrana (Zanne) of Durham, North Carolina, and many cousins and friends.
Ben is preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law, Verlon K. (Tony) Vrana, and his first wife, Carolee Claxton.
Visitation will be Wednesday, Sept. 17, from 1 – 8:30 p.m. at Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home with family receiving friends from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be Thursday, Sept. 18, at 10 a.m. at the Seward United Methodist Church with inurnment at the Seward Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to Seward Fire and Rescue.
Arrangements by Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home.
