Howard F. Bennett

Howard F. Bennett, DVM, 81, of Petersburg, died Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at Menard Convalescent Center. He was born on January 19, 1927 in Garnett, Kansas to Homer and Edith White Bennett. He married Kathy Lynch in Havana on April 30, 1978. He is survived by his wife, Kathy of Petersburg; ten children and stepchildren and eighteen grandchildren: Liane (Greg) Hammer and children, Tavelle, Shalika, and Zein of Auburn; Harold F. (Gaylene) Bennett and children, Erin, Elliot, and Samantha of Madison, Wisconsin; Susan (Dayton) Wilde and children, Benjamin and Martha of Watkinsville, Georgia; Karen (David) Higginbotham and children, Caitlyn and Joseph of Watkinsville, Georgia; Stuart Bennett of Lakeland, Colorado; Angela (Jeff) Parrish and children, Damon and John of Pleasant Plains; JoEllen (Mark) Moleski and children, Brandon and Jared of Petersburg; Kari (B.J.) Gardiner and children, Marcedes, Brooke, and Natalie of Springfield; Darren (fiancée, Lisa Baldwin) Bennett of Denver, Colorado; Tricia Bennett and child, Aiden of Springfield; two brothers, Jim (Nancy) Bennett of Ripon, Wisconsin, George (Claudine) Bennett of Cincinnati, Ohio; two sisters, Rebecca (George) Price of Wichita, Kansas, and Martha McDysan of Fredricksburg, Virginia; and a sister-in-law, Wilma Bennett of Garnett, Kansas. His brother, Paul Bennett, and parents preceded him in death. Mr. Bennett had been a veterinarian for over 50 years. He was a founding member of the Petersburg Tree Committee, Little League Baseball President and coach, girls softball and soccer coach. He is a former president of the Petersburg School Board and Petersburg Toastmaster Club. He assisted in organizing the PORTA Athletic Boosters Club, and was the former president of the Menard Merchant Bowling League. He was a Deacon at the Tallula Chirstian Church. Recently, he liked helping others learn bridge at the Bridge Center of Springfield. As an advisor for the PORTA School Problems Solvers, he enjoyed working with students in planning the flowers garden at the Rotary Park and being a chaperone on trips. He was Master Gardener and Arborist. Mr. Bennett was a U.S. Army WWII veteran. Due to his life long devotion to helping in the community, the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce selected him for the First Citizen Award in 2002. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2008 at 10:00 am at Tallula Christian Church. Rev. John Bormann will be officiating. Visitation will be held Friday, July 18, 2008 from 5:00 pm till 7:00 pm at Hurley Funeral Home in Petersburg. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery in Petersburg. Memorial contributions may be made to Tallula Christian Church, Petersburg Tree Committee, or PORTA Foundation.

Howard F. Bennett

January 19, 1927 - July 15, 2008

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