Garrett Robert Benner

Garrett Robert Benner passed away on April 24, 2024, while hospitalized at Northside Hospital Forsyth due to complications from leukemia.

He is survived by his wife Patricia Benner; his two children, Daniel Garrett Benner and Jaime Ashley Benner; grandson Galvin Geigle; granddaughter Patina Strobos; sister Deborah Hanson (Paul); sister Cheryl Thomas (James); nephew Anthony Thomas; niece Allison Thomas; great niece Hadley Thomas.

He was preceded in death by his father, Clayton Benner, his mother, Irene Benner and brother, Gregory Benner.

Garrett was born in Chicago, IL, and raised in Minneapolis, MN, by his mother, Irene Simon Benner and father, Clayton Benner. He studied at the University of Minnesota, and started his career at 3M, then headquartered in St. Paul, in 1966, in the photo copier division providing marketing and sales services.  This copier division was sold in 1986, and Garrett moved South with the new company, Harris 3M.  This company was then sold to Lanier Worldwide, an Atlanta based company, and he moved to the Atlanta area with his family in 1986.  Lanier Worldwide was subsequently sold to Ricoh USA, where Garrett remained until his retirement in 2011.

Garrett had a 45-year long career that included every aspect of marketing and sales.  He excelled in the incentive sales area, which encouraged the sales force to redouble its efforts and resulted in increased profitability.  Many sales incentive programs Garrett developed centered around golf, and he introduced customers as well as salespeople to the wonders of the Masters Golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia, all the way to the thrill of playing at the Pebble Beach golf course in California.  After his retirement from Ricoh, he set up his own business selling toner and ink to local businesses, friends, and family.  He also had a 12-year stint as a starter at the Laurel Springs Golf Club, where he made friends and entertained the golfers with his wit and lively personality.  Garrett always loved to work and had an exceptional work ethic.

Even more than his work, it was his people—family, friends, colleagues—who were his reason for loving life.  It was his people who gave him strength to fight for his life right up until the end.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Friday, June 14, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. in the Ingram Funeral Home Chapel funeral. Family will receive friends one hour prior to service.        

The service can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/live/UHAKT5LNBLU?si=ITvh1rleAjs9N8Je

Reception to follow at Laurel Springs Golf Club. 6400 Golf Club Drive. Suwanee, Ga.  30024 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society are deeply appreciated. 

Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory, Cumming, Georgia will oversee arrangements.