Richard John Bennett Jr.

Richard John Bennett Jr. (Dick) age 93 of Nashua, IA, died Saturday, July 20, 2019, at Cedar Vale Assisted Living in Nashua.

A private family burial will take place at a later date. Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home in Nashua was entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences for Richard’s family may be left at hugebackfunerlahome.com

Richard John Bennett Jr. was born Aug. 5, 1925 in Independence, IA, the son of Richard and Madline (Butke) Bennett. He attended school in Brandon, IA, through the 8th grade, before moving to the Nashua area where he graduated from Nashua High School in 1943. Dick served in the United States Navy during World War II with his unit spending time in England and Guam.

Dick worked at Hydrotile in Nashua and owned and operated Bennett’s Sport Shop Tavern for many years. Dick then decided to take a position with White Farm in Charles City, working there for a couple years before starting with Koehring in Waverly, working as a welding engineer. He retired from the company in 1986.

On Jan. 13, 1947, Dick married Helene Bloom. To this union, three children were born. Helene died on Sept. 20, 1971. Some time later while Dick was out for a sandwich Merle caught Dick’s eye and he asked her out for a cup of coffee. Dick and Merle then joined their families through marriage on May 5, 1972, in Mason City, Iowa.

The couple lived life to the fullest going on many different trips around the United States and spending many winters in Florida and Arizona. Other than traveling, Dick spent time woodworking and working with stained glass. He enjoyed model railroads and would build tracks along with scenery to go with.

He was a member of the Little Brown Church, the Nashua V.F.W. and the American Legion.

Dick is survived by his children, Connie (Ted) Halter of Sun City, CA, Larry (Jan) Doyle of Hinkley, MN, Lorene Hirsch of Nashua, IA, Lynn Doyle of Cedar Falls, IA; brother Robert Bennett of Mason City, IA; seven grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren; son-in-law Don Hirsch of Charles City, IA.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife Helene in 1971; second wife Merle in 2016; a son in infancy; two sons, Richard J. Bennett III and Tim Bennett; sister, Joan Cason.