Benjamin Thomas Miklas of Hurleyville, NY passed away peacefully on July 22nd, 2026. He was 96 years old. His life was long and fruitful, and we, his family, are grateful for every year we were blessed to have with him.

As a first generation American, Ben was born on June 23rd, 1930 to Stella and Michael Miklas, and grew up in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. He was a city kid and proud of it. Right up until the end, his voice still carried an accent that would make anyone smile.

As Ben grew up, he was shaped by his Polish roots, Catholic faith, family, friends, music, baseball, and a lifelong love of fixing things. He especially loved cars, though owning one required a fair amount of negotiation. No matter his age, Frank Sinatra or Nat King Cole could usually be heard in the background either on the radio or Alexa (depending on what decade you caught him in). He always knew where the Yankees stood, and there was always a new mission underway, whether it was finding a good deal on a lawnmower, giving someone a new rosary or St. Christopher for travel, or reorganizing the garage for the hundredth time.

Not long after graduating high school, Ben was drafted into the United States Army and served for three years during the Korean War. It is hard to imagine a young man who had scarcely left Brooklyn suddenly finding himself halfway around the world. The 70 years after were always deeply impacted by his time in war, and he never forgot those who were lost. He was always a proud Veteran and no words will ever describe how grateful we are for all the sacrifices he and so many others made.

Upon returning, he married Margaret Marie Buckley and found himself venturing to the Catskills for work. From owning and operating the Sundown General Store, to serving as a correctional officer, to faithfully attending school concerts and ball games as a devoted grandfather, Ben spent the rest of his life building a home and community for himself in the mountains he came to love.

Ben was predeceased by his wife, Margaret and his beloved poodle, Benji. He is survived by his children, Kathleen Jones (Desi), Benjamin Miklas Jr. (Karen), and Michael Miklas (Sha); and his grandchildren, Lauren (John), Devan, Kaylee, Jason, and Jonah.

We think of Ben's passing as a celebration of a life well lived and find comfort when remembering how much he loved diners, an espresso martini, a good pierogi, his faith, a ShopRite bargain, and telling a story or two. There is no question Ben knew how to get what he wanted out of life.

If you were lucky enough to hear one of Ben's stories, we hope the memory brings a smile to your face and inspires you to pass along one of his tales or a bit of his humor to others. That would be one of the greatest tributes to his memory.

A wake will be held at Colonial Memorial Funeral Home on Sunday, July 26th from 2-4 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, July 27th, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception with interment at the Grahamsville Methodist Rural Cemetery to follow.

If wishing, we ask any donations be made to the Sullivan County SPCA, an organization Ben felt deeply passionate about. Donations can be made to PO Box 995, Rock Hill, NY 12775 or https://sullivanspca.org/.

In closing, we leave you with a favorite toast of Ben's: "Na zdrowie!" which in Polish means "To your health!"

Arrangements were under the care of Colonial Memorial Funeral Home. For further information please call 845-434-7363.