Obituary Record

Francis William (Bill) Bennett
Died on 7/12/2016

None

Posted on line 17 Aug 2016; Published in The Enterprise 19 Aug 2016

(Photo)

(Veteran)

William 'Bill' Bennett, 84

Francis William “Bill” Bennett, 84, passed away on Tuesday, July 12, 2016, in the comfort of his home with his loving wife, Joyce.

He was born February 5, 1932, and raised in Blair, Nebraska, the son of Chester and Grace (Sully) Bennett. During his time at Dana College, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served in Korea. Bill was wounded during the “Battle for the Punchbowl” and spent 9 months recovering at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Oakland, California. Three years after returning to Dana, he was accepted into the University of Iowa College of Medicine, graduating in 1960. Following an internship at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Bill established a private family practice in Marion, Iowa.

For over 15 years he provided health care for a community, delivered children and made house calls. He then became Associate Director and preceptor at the Family Practice Residency Program at Mercy Hospital. Interest in addiction medicine led him to a position as the Medical Director at the Sedlacek Chemical Dependency Treatment Center. He served on the Iowa governor’s board for chemical dependency treatment, helping to establish centers throughout many parts of the state and was recognized for his work in substance abuse in the medical community. Bill retired in 1992.

Over the years, Bill contributed to the community in many ways. He served as a team physician for the Marion High School Football team for over 25 years; volunteered at the Toddville Clinic; was active in the Sertoma service club, serving as president. He lectured at the University of Iowa College of Medicine.

Bill will be remembered for his wry sense of humor, intellectual curiosity, commitment to the Marine Corps, and love of reading and fishing. He was an amazing father, husband and community member.

Bill is survived by his wife, Joyce Bennett (Petersen); sons, Brian Bennett and wife, Lisa (Henriques), Bruce Bennett and wife, Pamela (Cole); daughter, Denise Ward and husband, Jon; grandchildren, Caitlin Ward, Charles Ward, Christopher Bennett, David Bennett, Benjamin Bennett, Olivia Bennett and Robert Cole and wife, Euliza; great-grandchildren, Robert, Xavier, Taylor Marie, Brittni, and Maya; sister, Ann Bennett; brother, John (Jack) Bennett and his wife, Pat; and many much loved nieces and nephews, cousins, and in-laws.

Bill was preceded in death by daughter, Sheila, and brother, Robert.

Funeral services were at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, July 16, 2016, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Marion, Iowa. Visitation was one hour prior to the service. Burial was at 10:00 a.m. Sunday, July 17, 2016, at West Branch Cemetery, West Branch.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund (semperfifund.org), USO (uso.org) or to the donor’s choice are preferred in memory of Bill.

Please share a memory of Bill at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under "obituaries."

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

Printed in the Washington County Enterprise on 8/19/2016


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