William George BENNETT

BENNETT, FOLGER, SUNDERMAN, HUISMAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/2/2016 at 19:39:58

September 13, 1913 ---- August 9, 1980

Services Tuesday for W. G. Bennett

W. G. (Bill) Bennett, 66, prominent Eagle Grove educator, died of cancer Saturday at Trinity Regional Hospital in Fort Dodge. Funeral services were Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in the United Church of Christ with burial in the Rose Hill Cemetery. Rev. Kenneth Reiter officiated Masonic services were held at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Kastler Babcock Funeral Home.

Bennett moved to Eagle Grove in 1948 as a biology instructor in the Eagle Grove Community Schools and the Eagle Grove Junior College. He left the high school in 1967 to devote full time to teaching at Iowa Central Community College where he served as chairman of the science department until he died. He was born in Rugby, N.D. in 1913, moved to Iowa, graduated from Northboro High School in 1932, received his BA degree from Tarkio College in Tarkio, Mo. in 1938 and his masters degree from Iowa State University in 1950. He taught high School science in Shelby and served as superintendent in Sandyville, Searboro and Nodaway schools prior to coming to Eagle Grove. Bennett enlisted in the U.S Navy from 1943 to 1946 as a communications officer and retired as a lieutenant commander in the naval reserve. He served as Boy Scoutmaster for nine years and was awarded the Silver Beaver award by the Winnebago Scout Council. He also served as Cubmaster and advisor for many years. A member of the Eagle Grove Park and Recreation Board, Bennett was instrumental in replanting the Eagle Grove parks. He has served as moderator of the United Church of Christ on various church boards and church teaching assignments as well as on the North Central Association Board of Ministry. A member of the Bower Masonic Lodge, he also was a Scottish Rite Masonary, White Shrine and Order of Eastern Star.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; and four children. William C. of Olympia, Wash.; Vaughn P. of Glenwood; Colleen of Essex and Marguerite Folger of Ames. Also five grandchildren; a brother, Merle of Mesa, Ariz., sisters, Mrs. Mary Sunderman of Clarinda; Mrs. Dorothy Huisman of Marshalltown, and Mrs. Betty Lee of Cedar Creek, Neb. He was preceded in death by his parents and twin infant sons.

August 13, 1980
Eagle Grove Eagle -- Iowa