Dr. Benjamin Paul Kietzman, age 92, was the beloved husband of Sylvia Sawyer Kietzman (died 8/7/2020) and father of Timothy John Kietzman, Sylvia Myrna Holmes, Ralph William Kietzman and Alice Aboye Sutor (died 1/19/2017) He was born in Gary, Indiana on February 8, 1930 as the youngest son of 6 children to William and Leona Kietzman. He is survived by his oldest brother William Kietzman who is now 99 years old. His other siblings that have gone on are Leona, Dale, Robert Ralph and Esther.

At the age of 13, a missionary doctor spoke at Pines Bible Church, Michigan City, Indiana. He was called by the Holy Spirit to go to Africa as a medical missionary, so from then on all his decisions were affected by that call. Ben graduated Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois in 1952 and Indiana University with a medical degree in 1956. Ben married Sylvia on June 25, 1955 at College Church in Wheaton. To further prepare himself for what he expected to encounter in tropical Africa, he completed a 2 year general surgery residency at Gorgas Hospital in the Panama Canal Zone. In the spring of 1959 after being accepted by Sudan Interior Mission, now known simply as "SIM by Prayer", Ben set out on a freighter ship with his 4 month pregnant wife for Nigeria. During their language school in Kano, Nigeria, Ben fell in love with Ophthalmology as he spent his afternoons observing M. Douglas Hursh, MD perform eye surgery.  M. Douglas Hursh, MD had been sent to Nigeria supported by his colleagues at the Wheaton Eye Clinic. For the next 7 years, Ben remained at the Kano Eye Hospital in Northern Nigeria performing more than 6,000 cataract surgeries: all this before he had even started his ophthalmology residency.

Ben fearlessly engaged in the endemic illnesses of the Nigerian people by pouring his knowledge and surgical skill into finding solutions for some of their most intractable diseases. In this process he was the first to publish on Mooren's ulcer of the cornea in young Nigerian adults. He also published on severe infections leading to endophthalmitis in Nigerian Children. He documented everything he saw with photos and created a collection worthy to be called an atlas of tropical ophthalmology.

Ben and his family left for furlough in 1967, just ahead of the start of the Biafran Civil War to begin an Ophthalmology residency at Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital, now know as RUSH University Medical Center.  Just before returning to Nigeria in the spring of 1970, he worked alongside his colleagues at the Wheaton Eye Clinic for one year. Many of these fellow Ophthalmologist supported Ben and his family as they returned to complete a total of 19 years of service in Kano, Nigeria.

During those years Benjamin's medical ministry and family also enjoyed the prayer and financial support of College Church in Wheaton and were comforted by their warm fellowship and worship upon their return. Many other individuals and churches were involved in supporting his work as well.

In 1978, Ben, Sylvia and their four children returned to the US where Benjamin rejoined the Wheaton Eye Clinic as a cataract and oculoplastic surgeon. They established their home at 0N620 Indian Knoll Rd. in West Chicago's Highlake neighborhood, where they lived for 41 years until Sylvia's passage into God's presence on August 7, 2020.

During these years, Ben and Sylvia faithfully worshiped at College Church. They focused their prayers and support on the missionary sending activities of College Church. This included the weekly Wednesday night missionary prayer fellowship.

Benjamin often contemplated the beautiful 65 years of marriage he had with Sylvia and frequently referred to it as "made in Heaven". Although he was always seen as a quiet man of physical and emotional strength, he always gave God the glory and praise for His wonderful goodness and blessing throughout his life.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, March 7, at 2:00 p.m. at College Church, Washington and Seminary St., Wheaton.  The service will be livestreamed here: Dr. Benjamin Kietzman Funeral Service . Friends may visit with the family from noon until 2:00 and following the service.

Interment will be held at Wheaton Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be directed to the College Church Missions Program .