Benjamin Scott Seiler, age 41, of Chicago, IL, died Thursday, June 1, at Saint Joseph’s Hospital after a courageous battle with lymphoma. Ben grew up in Sweetwater and graduated from Sweetwater High School. He went on to the University of TennesseeWhere he was a member of the UT Singers, and he obtained a degree in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design. Subsequently, he received a degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia. For the past eight years, Ben has been employed by Mariani Landscape as a lead landscape architect. His professional memberships include the Illinois Contractors Association as well as the American Society of Landscape Architects, for whom he served as a membership chair. His designswere featured in North Shore Magazine, and he was granted the IL-ASLA Honor Award in 2005. Ben is survived by his partner of eleven years, Bill Lhotka; his parents, Ann and John Seiler; brothers, John (Jeni) Seiler and Clark (Frances) Seiler; by loving nephew and nieces, Harrison, Mandy, and Caroline Seiler and by his adored Akita, Kuma. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Kyker Funeral Home, Sweetwater, TN, 423-337-5033 or 865-637-6800. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123-1718; amFar, the Foundations for AIDS Research, 120 Wall Street, 13th Floor, New York, NY, 10005-3902, or First United Methodist Building Fund, 501 Church Street, Sweetwater, TN 37874.
