TRAVERSE CITY -- Joseph F. Bennett, 87, died Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, at Munson Hospice House.
Born Feb. 5, 1922, in Wayne County, Nankin Township, he was delivered by his grandfather, Dr. Joseph E. Bennett, after whom he was named. He was the son of Dr. Harold S. Bennett, D.D.S. and Lillian S. (Boyce) Bennett.
On Jan. 19, 1946, he married the love of his life, Dorothy J. (Dottie) Schneider, at the Martha Mary Chapel in Greenfield Village, Dearborn.
He was raised in Dearborn, attended and graduated from Edison Institute High School, owned by Henry Ford. In the summer of Joe's senior year of high school (1939), he attended the World's Fair in New York along with a few other classmates, where they worked and represented the "Ford Exposition" for Henry Ford.
After high school Joe began his studies at Albion College and was a member of Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity. After two years at Albion he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served in Italy and Africa, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant and was honorably discharged in December 1945.
After the war Joe reentered Albion College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics.
During Joe's working career he was employed by Ford Motor Co., Iron Mountain division; Pennsalt Chemicals, Wyandotte; Bower Roller Bearing Co., Detroit; and finally moved to Traverse City in 1960, where he became the personnel director for Cone Drive Gears, Ex-Cell-O Corp.
In the mid 1960s Joe was president of the Community Chest in Traverse City. He played on the golf league for Cone Drive Gears for many years. Playing golf for all those years did pay off; he got a hole-in-one at the Cherry Festival's "hole in one" competition, and won an all expense paid trip to Myrtle Beach.
He was a member of the Elk's Club and the VFW.
His love of water and fishing attracted him to the Old Mission Peninsula, where he and his wife built a home on East Bay and raised their family.
An avid hunter Joe took many trips to Canada, the U.P. and the western states. He learned his love of the outdoors from his dad and grandfather. His dad took him to the family deer camp in Grand Marais, Mich ,where he shot his first buck. From that foundation, hunting and fishing became a passion. He hunted in Alberta, Canada, for moose and Ontario for bear. He also hunted elk and mule deer in Colorado. He established his own deer camp (CAMP COME AND TOUGH IT) in the Upper Peninsula, which is still used by family members today.
Joe is survived by his children, John Bennett and Patricia (Rick) Watson, both of Traverse City; daughter-in law, Paulette Bennett Lueck of Duck Lake; grandchildren, Joseph (Joann) Bennett of Chelsea, Dr. Jason (Heather) Bennett of White Lake, Kylie and fiancÃ', Josh Carpenter of Traverse City, Hollie (Chad) Asman of Washington, Mich., Christopher Watson of Chiang Mai, Thailand, Mark (Veronica) Watson of Lake Ann and Heidi Watson of Lansing. In addition, he is survived by great-grandchildren, Charlie, Lydia and Luke Asman, Ashley Bennett and Oscar Watson; brothers-in-law, Robert Morse of Muskegon and Ed (Justine) Schneider of Blue Hill, Maine; Niece Dr. Laurie (Jim) Hayes of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, Wally (Joan) Schultz of Shelly Beach, Australia, Dr. Bill (Inger) Schultz of Ann Arbor and Ed (Lori) Schultz of Rochester, Minn., Doug (Mary) Morse of Grand Rapids, Steve (Nancy) Morse of Grand Rapids, Jennifer (Lou) Manak of Muskegon, Steve Schneider of New York and Sarah Schneider of Pennsylvania; and his dear friend, Ann Travis of Traverse City.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Carol Morse; wife, Dottie in 2006; son, Joe in 1995; infant daughter, Mary Kathryn in 1951; and mother- and father-in-law, Edwin (Roy) and Fidelia (Heath) Schneider.
Visitation will be Saturday, Nov. 7, from noon until the time of service at 2 p.m., at Grace Episcopal Church, with a luncheon to follow.
Memorial contributions may be made to Munson Hospice House or Grace Episcopal Church of Traverse City.
Kindly share thoughts and memories with the family on their online guest book at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.
The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.
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