Robert Francis Bennett, 96 of Chrisman, Illinois, passed away at 11:35 a.m. Sunday, April 11, 2021 at Paris Health and Rehabilitation Center in Paris.
He retired from the United States Postal Service as the Postmaster of the Chrisman Post Office.
Robert was born August 28, 1924 in Ashmore, Illinois, the son of the late Brent Ambrose and Winona D. (Ashmore) Bennett. He married Phyllis Ann Heggerty November 12, 1946 in Kansas, Illinois. She preceded him in death May 31, 2015.
Survivors include two daughters, Sheryl Ann Bennett of Chrisman, Illinois and Trudy Wynn (Frank) Smidler of Stoughton, Wisconsin; a sister, Dorothy Townsend of Shelbyville, Illinois; four grandchildren, Kylee (Adam) Gregory of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Drew (Jessica) Smidler of Zionsville, Indiana, Chelsy (Ian) Jankus of Centreville, Virginia and Derek Smidler of Clearfield, Utah; three great grandchildren, Bennett and Sammy Smidler and Harper Jankus and multiple nieces and nephews from both the Bennett and Heggerty families.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; one son, John Thomas Bennett; two brothers, John A Bennett and James Earl Bennett, and an infant sister, Rebecca Dorcas.
Mr. Bennett was a veteran of the United States Army serving as an infantryman in Company F. 253rd Battalion 63rd Division that went to overseas combat in 1945. He received both the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service as well as other recognitions.
Bob was a member of the Kansas American Legion Post 539, receiving a 75-year member certificate, a 72-year member of the 40 and 8, and life member and Past Commander of Paris VFW Post 3601, as well as Past District Commander.
Bob served as a volunteer Deputy Sheriff with the Edgar County Civil Defense for many years, volunteered as Van Driver for the Veteran's Administration, and was a member of the Chrisman Christian Church.
He told the best stories, loved to laugh and tease, and had the biggest heart ever! He kept his ornery sense of humor up until the end - sharing his cornflakes joke at least once with every nurse who cared for him at Paris Health and Rehab!
Bob will be dearly missed by family and friends, but we are thankful he is reunited with family who have gone before. And his knees don't hurt anymore!
Burial will be at Franklin Cemetery with Brother Karl Marshall officiating. Military Honors will be provided by Kansas American Legion Post 539.
Templeton Funeral Home
He retired from the United States Postal Service as the Postmaster of the Chrisman Post Office.
Robert was born August 28, 1924 in Ashmore, Illinois, the son of the late Brent Ambrose and Winona D. (Ashmore) Bennett. He married Phyllis Ann Heggerty November 12, 1946 in Kansas, Illinois. She preceded him in death May 31, 2015.
Survivors include two daughters, Sheryl Ann Bennett of Chrisman, Illinois and Trudy Wynn (Frank) Smidler of Stoughton, Wisconsin; a sister, Dorothy Townsend of Shelbyville, Illinois; four grandchildren, Kylee (Adam) Gregory of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Drew (Jessica) Smidler of Zionsville, Indiana, Chelsy (Ian) Jankus of Centreville, Virginia and Derek Smidler of Clearfield, Utah; three great grandchildren, Bennett and Sammy Smidler and Harper Jankus and multiple nieces and nephews from both the Bennett and Heggerty families.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; one son, John Thomas Bennett; two brothers, John A Bennett and James Earl Bennett, and an infant sister, Rebecca Dorcas.
Mr. Bennett was a veteran of the United States Army serving as an infantryman in Company F. 253rd Battalion 63rd Division that went to overseas combat in 1945. He received both the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service as well as other recognitions.
Bob was a member of the Kansas American Legion Post 539, receiving a 75-year member certificate, a 72-year member of the 40 and 8, and life member and Past Commander of Paris VFW Post 3601, as well as Past District Commander.
Bob served as a volunteer Deputy Sheriff with the Edgar County Civil Defense for many years, volunteered as Van Driver for the Veteran's Administration, and was a member of the Chrisman Christian Church.
He told the best stories, loved to laugh and tease, and had the biggest heart ever! He kept his ornery sense of humor up until the end - sharing his cornflakes joke at least once with every nurse who cared for him at Paris Health and Rehab!
Bob will be dearly missed by family and friends, but we are thankful he is reunited with family who have gone before. And his knees don't hurt anymore!
Burial will be at Franklin Cemetery with Brother Karl Marshall officiating. Military Honors will be provided by Kansas American Legion Post 539.
Templeton Funeral Home
Robert Francis Bennett, 96 of Chrisman, Illinois, passed away at 11:35 a.m. Sunday, April 11, 2021 at Paris Health and Rehabilitation Center in Paris.
He retired from the United States Postal Service as the Postmaster of the Chrisman Post Office.
Robert was born August 28, 1924 in Ashmore, Illinois, the son of the late Brent Ambrose and Winona D. (Ashmore) Bennett. He married Phyllis Ann Heggerty November 12, 1946 in Kansas, Illinois. She preceded him in death May 31, 2015.
Survivors include two daughters, Sheryl Ann Bennett of Chrisman, Illinois and Trudy Wynn (Frank) Smidler of Stoughton, Wisconsin; a sister, Dorothy Townsend of Shelbyville, Illinois; four grandchildren, Kylee (Adam) Gregory of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Drew (Jessica) Smidler of Zionsville, Indiana, Chelsy (Ian) Jankus of Centreville, Virginia and Derek Smidler of Clearfield, Utah; three great grandchildren, Bennett and Sammy Smidler and Harper Jankus and multiple nieces and nephews from both the Bennett and Heggerty families.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; one son, John Thomas Bennett; two brothers, John A Bennett and James Earl Bennett, and an infant sister, Rebecca Dorcas.
Mr. Bennett was a veteran of the United States Army serving as an infantryman in Company F. 253rd Battalion 63rd Division that went to overseas combat in 1945. He received both the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service as well as other recognitions.
Bob was a member of the Kansas American Legion Post 539, receiving a 75-year member certificate, a 72-year member of the 40 and 8, and life member and Past Commander of Paris VFW Post 3601, as well as Past District Commander.
Bob served as a volunteer Deputy Sheriff with the Edgar County Civil Defense for many years, volunteered as Van Driver for the Veteran's Administration, and was a member of the Chrisman Christian Church.
He told the best stories, loved to laugh and tease, and had the biggest heart ever! He kept his ornery sense of humor up until the end - sharing his cornflakes joke at least once with every nurse who cared for him at Paris Health and Rehab!
Bob will be dearly missed by family and friends, but we are thankful he is reunited with family who have gone before. And his knees don't hurt anymore!
Burial will be at Franklin Cemetery with Brother Karl Marshall officiating. Military Honors will be provided by Kansas American Legion Post 539.
Templeton Funeral Home
He retired from the United States Postal Service as the Postmaster of the Chrisman Post Office.
Robert was born August 28, 1924 in Ashmore, Illinois, the son of the late Brent Ambrose and Winona D. (Ashmore) Bennett. He married Phyllis Ann Heggerty November 12, 1946 in Kansas, Illinois. She preceded him in death May 31, 2015.
Survivors include two daughters, Sheryl Ann Bennett of Chrisman, Illinois and Trudy Wynn (Frank) Smidler of Stoughton, Wisconsin; a sister, Dorothy Townsend of Shelbyville, Illinois; four grandchildren, Kylee (Adam) Gregory of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Drew (Jessica) Smidler of Zionsville, Indiana, Chelsy (Ian) Jankus of Centreville, Virginia and Derek Smidler of Clearfield, Utah; three great grandchildren, Bennett and Sammy Smidler and Harper Jankus and multiple nieces and nephews from both the Bennett and Heggerty families.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; one son, John Thomas Bennett; two brothers, John A Bennett and James Earl Bennett, and an infant sister, Rebecca Dorcas.
Mr. Bennett was a veteran of the United States Army serving as an infantryman in Company F. 253rd Battalion 63rd Division that went to overseas combat in 1945. He received both the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service as well as other recognitions.
Bob was a member of the Kansas American Legion Post 539, receiving a 75-year member certificate, a 72-year member of the 40 and 8, and life member and Past Commander of Paris VFW Post 3601, as well as Past District Commander.
Bob served as a volunteer Deputy Sheriff with the Edgar County Civil Defense for many years, volunteered as Van Driver for the Veteran's Administration, and was a member of the Chrisman Christian Church.
He told the best stories, loved to laugh and tease, and had the biggest heart ever! He kept his ornery sense of humor up until the end - sharing his cornflakes joke at least once with every nurse who cared for him at Paris Health and Rehab!
Bob will be dearly missed by family and friends, but we are thankful he is reunited with family who have gone before. And his knees don't hurt anymore!
Burial will be at Franklin Cemetery with Brother Karl Marshall officiating. Military Honors will be provided by Kansas American Legion Post 539.
Templeton Funeral Home
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