Vern Bennett

Vern C. Bennett, 72, of Battle Creek, Michigan, passed away on Sunday, March 3, after a long struggle with Alzheimers, dementia, and heart disease.  He was in hospice care at Battle Creek Veterans Hospital when he passed.

Vern was born October 25, 1951, in Chicago, Illinois, to Vernie (Tom) Bennett and Violet Rose (Wolf) Bennett.  The family moved to Bangor, Michigan, where he, his two brothers, and three sisters grew up.  

He joined the Army February 10, 1971, where he became a field wireman and earned The National Defense Service Medal and Marksman Badge.  He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing.  He was very competitive and joined in archery and shooting competitions.

Vern worked as a maintenance supervisor for many years until open heart surgery forced him to retire.

Vern loved gardening and working in the yard.  He was especially proud of his strawberry patch and giant potatoes.  He enjoyed a good game of poker or dominos.  His favorite movies were westerns and war movies and could sing the theme songs for most of the old television westerns.  He was very good with numbers and could add something in his head before anyone could put it on a calculator.

The youngest of six children, he is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Tom and William (Bill) Bennett, sister Patricia (Bennett) Everts and son William Bennett.

He is survived by his wife of twenty-seven years, Debra Bennett, sisters Fran (Bennett) Collins and Karen (Bennett) Skinner, son Donald Bennett, two stepdaughters Heather Koehler and Kristi Green, eleven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. 

While visiting Vern’s memory page at www.amsfuneralhomes.com please sign the guestbook and/or share a memory with the family.

The family is being assisted by Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Home; 120 S. Woodhams St. Plainwell, MI 49080 (269-685-5881).