He was born Oct. 23, 1941 to Leslie R. and Regina Bennett in Marshalltown. He attended MHS, MCC and Buena Vista, and was also a tutor while attending college. After high school, he joined the Marines and was stationed in Okinawa and Vietnam. Later in life, he joined the Army Tank Corp. in Fort Knox, Kentucky. He married Louise Boldra on January 8, 1966, in Marshalltown. He held jobs as a mechanic, a semi driver and a lumber yard worker at Menards. He enjoyed golf, fishing, bowling and playing chess.

He is survived by a brother, Michael Bennett, of Marshalltown; his wife Louise, of Marshalltown; and children: William Bennett, of Marshalltown, Melaina (Terry) Boyd, of Marshalltown, and Charmaine (Jim) Van Acker, of Golden City, Missouri, and also a granddaughter Lexi Van Acker, of Golden City, Missouri.