Francis Bennett

FRANCIS WILLIAM "BILL" BENNETT

Marion

Francis William "Bill" Bennett passed away Tuesday, July 12, 2016, in the comfort of his home with his loving wife, Joyce. Funeral services: 3 p.m. Saturday, July 16, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Marion. Visitation will be held one hour before the service. Burial: 10 a.m. Sunday, July 17, at West Branch Cemetery, West Branch.

He was born and raised in Blair, Neb., the son of Chester and Grace (Sully) Bennett. During his time at Dana College, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served in Korea. Bill was wounded during the Battle for the Punchbowl and spent nine months recovering at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Oakland, Calif. Three years after returning to Dana, he was accepted into the University of Iowa College of Medicine, graduating in 1960.

Following an internship at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Bill established a private family practice in Marion. For over 15 years, he provided health care for a community, delivered children and made house calls. He then became associate director and preceptor at the Family Practice Residency Program at Mercy Hospital. Interest in addiction medicine led him to a position as medical director at the Sedlacek Chemical Dependency Treatment Center.

He served on the Iowa governor's board for chemical dependency treatment, helping to establish centers throughout many parts of the state, and was recognized for his work in substance abuse in the medical community. Bill retired in 1992.

Over the years, Bill contributed to the community in many ways. He served as a team physician for the Marion High School football team for more than 25 years, volunteered at the Toddville Clinic, and was active in the Sertoma service club, serving as president. He lectured at the University of Iowa College of Medicine.

Bill will be remembered for his wry sense of humor, intellectual curiosity, commitment to the Marine Corps, and love of reading and fishing.

He was an amazing father, husband and community member.

Bill is survived by his wife, Joyce Bennett (Petersen); sons, Brian Bennett and wife Lisa (Henriques) and Bruce Bennett and wife Pamela (Cole); daughter, Denise Ward and husband Jon; grandchildren, Caitlin Ward, Charles Ward, Christopher Bennett, David Bennett, Benjamin Bennett and Olivia Bennett; sister, Ann Bennett; brother, John (Jack) Bennett and wife Pat; and many much-loved nieces and nephews, cousins and in-laws.

Bill was preceded in death by his daughter, Sheila, and brother, Robert.

In lieu of flowers, memorials directed to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund (semperfifund.org), USO (uso.org) or to donor's choice are preferred in memory of Bill.

Please share a memory of Bill at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.