Donald John Bennett, 88, of Wamego, Kansas, died Monday, September 18, 2023, at his home. He was a life-long resident of the community.
Don was born May 22, 1935, in Flush, Kansas, the son of Maurice and Rosella (Lauer) Bennett. He attended local grade school and graduated in 1953 from Wamego High School.
Don worked fifty-one years for Wamego Floral. He helped raise and deliver bedding plants and flowers all over the country. He loved raising mums and poinsettias. He then worked for several years for 5-H Green House and then True Value Hardware. Don was very handy and was able to fix almost anything. While working for the hardware store, he was often sought out by customers not only because he knew where to find whatever they were looking for, but also because of his knowledge of how things worked.
Don loved to bowl and won many tournaments. He also loved to raise his garden and enjoyed the fruits of his labors. He was an active member of St. Bernard Catholic Church and over the years served as an usher, lector, and server. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus.
On May 11, 1957, in Wamego, Don married Ann Boyd. They shared over 66 years together and she now survives at their home.
Don is also survived by his children; Omar Bennett (Margarita Bautista), Topeka, Dianne Hall, Wamego, and Rob Bennett (Dawn Nogosek), Garden City; his grandchildren, Natalie Bennett, Chelsey Ellis, Andrew Bennett, Jacque Hastert, Tim Hall, Jr., Nathaniel Hall, Anthony Bennett, Redawn Bennett, Latisha Bennett, and Darlene Bennett; his great-grandchildren, Adler, Fiona, Olivia, Lily, Jerome and Violet. Don was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Emma Hastert, son-in-law, Timothy Hall, and his siblings, Joretta Varnadore, Wayne Bennett and Rita Dornbusch.
Graveside inurnment services will be held at 12:00 p.m., Thursday, September 28, 2023, at St. Bernard Catholic Cemetery in Wamego. Father Mike Peterson will be officiating. The family will greet friends from 10:30 a.m. until service time at Campanella and Stewart Funeral Home. They suggest memorial contributions to either the American Cancer Association or the Alzheimer’s Association, and those may be sent in care of the funeral home.