MADISON - Benjamin Richard Balgord, beloved father, husband, son, brother, and friend to all, passed unexpectedly at the age of 34.

Joyous from the beginning, Ben was born to Gary and Darlene Balgord in Madison, the community that would make and shape his life. As a child, Ben was always trying enthusiastically to keep up with his big sisters; ready to share in all of their misadventures. He was equally excited to go on a fishing trip with his dad or help his mom work in her classroom at Queen of Peace School. Ben was adored by everyone he met. He was fun, kind, loyal, and had boundless energy. You could always count on him to join any activity, any time. If you enjoyed something, Ben wanted to share in your merriment.

Ben graduated with Honors from Madison West High School in 2008. An exceptional soccer player, Ben competed for the Madison 56ers club team and was the leading scorer for the varsity team during his senior season. As an adult, he gave back to the program as a coach, one of countless examples of how Ben deliberately lived his values by strengthening his community.

A proud Badger, Ben earned an Engineering degree from UW-Madison in 2012. In addition to expanding his elite group of lifelong friends, Ben met his future wife Megan in the elevator of their apartment complex in the fall of their sophomore year. They lived only a few doors apart, and soon became inseparable.

Ben married Megan on June 14, 2014. They danced in their celebration with swagger and sweetness surrounded by hundreds of their closest family and friends, with none other than mascot Bucky Badger making a guest appearance at the reception. On July 5, 2018, Cora Lucille transformed Ben and Megan into parents, with Ben eagerly jumping into the role of father. They welcomed their second child, Beckett Guy, on June 25, 2020, completing their chaotic, curious, and always kind family. Ben shared his love of nature with his children. A devoted and doting father, you could often find Ben traveling with his family, exploring state and county parks, supporting the local library, and appreciating anything and everything in nature. His kids will remember him as silly, adventurous, and fun.

During the pandemic, Ben stepped away from an engineering career to focus on serving his community and spending more time with his young family. Ben volunteered all over town, particularly delighting in taking his children to nursing homes to build snowmen in front of residents’ windows. Most recently, Ben chose to follow the family tradition of teaching, joining his sister, mother, and grandmother in the field of education as a technical education and engineering teacher at Sennett Middle School.

Ben is survived by his wife, Megan; children, Cora and Beckett; parents, Gary and Darlene Balgord; sisters, Sarah Balgord (Matthew Stran) and Elizabeth Balgord (Cameron Colburn); and niece, Charlotte Stran; in addition to countless other family members and friends.

A memorial service will be held at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 401 S. Owen Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 4, 2024, with a reception to follow. A celebration of life will be held at the ALDO LEOPOLD NATURE CENTER 330 Femrite Drive, Monona, WI 53716, at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 5, 2024. All are welcome at both.

Ben was full of life. He was bursting with love, warmth, curiosity, empathy, and joy. To know Ben was to feel simultaneously at ease, entertained, and inspired. We were all lucky to have him in our lives and will miss him forever.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be gifted in Ben’s name to the Wisconsin State Parks System, the Madison Public Library Foundation https://mplfoundation.org/donate/, or Journey Mental Health Center https://www.journeymhc.org/services/overview.

A GoFundMe and Meal Train have also been set up to support the family: (https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-the-balgord-family).

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson West
Funeral & Cremation Care
7435 University Ave.
(608) 831-6761

Benjamin Balgord

April 19, 1990 - April 24, 2024

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