Robert Bennett

Robert Bennett, 91, of Mason City, passed away at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit-Mason City, Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Memorial services will be held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 31, 2012, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue with Pastor Ed Bard, Chaplain-Hospice of North Iowa officiating. A gathering of family and friends will be one hour prior to the service. Military Honors will be conducted by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association. Robert was born April 26, 1920, in Mason City, Iowa, the son of W. L. and Agnes Lewis Bennett. Bob fondly reminisced of his boyhood growing up in Mason City with Bill, his brother and close friend. He attended Mason City High School where he enjoyed being in the marching band. During the summer months many a day was spent swimming in the river at East Park and working up at Lutsen Resort in Minnesota, also in his teens Bob’s passion for motorcycles emerged and upon graduation he purchased his first of many. He married the love of his life, Vivian Gorman, on August 23, 1943, in New London, Connecticut by the Justice of the Peace prior to his naval patrol to the Pacific upon the USS Pampanito serving as a Torpedoman 1st Class. His poignant diary of his wartime experience, including being a rescue swimmer when the Pampanito brought aboard 73 British and Australian POWs that had been adrift at sea, clinging to makeshift rafts for four days, can be found on the Pampanito’s website. Robert, or Smiling Bob as he was called by his sub mates, developed a life long friendship with several of the Aussies that were rescued. After the war Bob continued his military service for many years in the Reserves. He and Viv happily shared their lives until her passing on December 28, 2007. During their marriage they enjoyed traveling, dancing to the swing of the Big Bands and raising their four children; Leslie, Cindi, Robin and Todd. Bob worked many years as a plumber both in his own business and with Payne Plumbing. He also maintained his avid motorcycle interest by partnering with friends in business firstly as Bennett & Walters Cycle Shop, then Cycles Limited, and then solely until his late 80’s when he retired, having been the oldest KTM dealership in the country and personal friends with John Penton, Penton Motorcycles and later KTM corporate President. Bob traveled the country and the world as a spectator of motorcycle races but more often as support to his son Robin and the racing adventures that they both loved participating together in. In Bob’s later years Alzheimer’s disease began to steal away memories but through out this journey he remained kind and thoughtful. Thank you to the staff of Manly Nursing and Rehab who cared for him attentively the last two years of his life. Robert is survived by children: Leslie Daly (Gene Chase) of St. Louis Park, MN, Cynthia Heine of Asheville, NC, Robin (Susan) Bennett of Mason City, and Todd Bennett of Milwaukee, WI, four grandchildren; Clinton and Judson Heine, Alex and Parris Bennett, three great-grandchildren and his brother William Bennett, Waukegan, IL. Memorials may be directed in Robert’s name to USS Pampanito SFMNPA , P.O. Box 470310, San Francisco, CA 94147.

Memorials may be directed in Robert’s name to USS Pampanito SFMNPA , P.O. Box 470310, San Francisco, CA 94147

Visitation:
A gathering of family and friends will be one hour prior to the service

Service:
Memorial services will be held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 31, 2012, at Major Erickson Funeral Home