Benjamin D. Proctor January 23, 1945 – May 6, 2026

Benjamin D. Proctor, 81, passed away peacefully on May 6, 2026, in hospice care and surrounded by the family and friends he loved.

Ben was born on January 23, 1945 — "1-2-3-4-5"; as he liked to say — in Eau Claire to William C. and Laura Moon Proctor. He graduated from Memorial High School in 1963, earned a bachelor's degree in history from Beloit College in 1967, and received his juris doctorate from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1971.

After briefly practicing law in Madison, Ben returned to Eau Claire. He joined the firm Hibbard, Hibbard & Evans, later Hibbard, Proctor, Schrage & Marjala, where he practiced for the next 17 years. In 1972, Ben met and married Janet Karow. Ben cared deeply about his community, serving as board president of the United Way, the YMCA, the Red Cross, and Big Brothers Big Sisters (then called Kinship), and lending his time to the Refuge House, Courage Center, and UW-Eau Claire Foundation.

In 1988, Ben was elected to the newly created Branch IV of the Eau Claire County Circuit Court, a position he would hold with distinction for 23 years until his retirement in 2011. Judge Proctor brought to the bench the same conviction he had brought to every corner of his life: a genuine desire to assist others. That commitment led him to help establish the Eau Claire County Criminal Justice Collaborating Council and to champion specialized treatment courts for veterans and single mothers. He served as Chief Judge of the Tenth District, overseeing 13 counties in northwestern Wisconsin, and as Chief of the Wisconsin Chief Judges. In 2010, the Wisconsin State Bar Association honored him as Wisconsin's Judge of the Year.

While Ben loved serving as a judge, his greatest joy was being with family and friends. He coached his children’s sports teams, cherished family trips, and enjoyed music, golfing, Badger football, and walking his dogs. Ben had a big personality and a sharp sense of humor that was always on display. 

Ben is survived by his wife of 53 years, Janet Proctor; son Benjamin W. Proctor (Lara); daughter Jennifer Proctor; sister Sarah Lahner; grandsons William and Thomas Proctor; brother-in-law James Clark; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Laura Proctor; sisters Elizabeth "Betsy" Proctor and Mary Clark; brother-in-law Steven Lahner; in-laws Arthur and Helen Karow; sister and brother-in-law Margaret and Alan Hamel; and niece Nancy Scott.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 5th, at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 310 Broadway Street, Eau Claire, with a luncheon to follow. Visitation with the family will begin one hour before the service.

The family would like to thank the staff at Dimensions Living Eau Claire and Interim Healthcare.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to some of Ben’s favorite organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin, the YMCA of the Chippewa Valley, and First Congregational Church.

Hulke Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Eau Claire is serving the family.

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