Charles "Art" Arthur Bennett

Charles “Art” Arthur Bennett, 98, of Geneva Township, passed away Monday, May 4, 2020 peacefully in his home. He was born March 21, 1922 to Wilbur and Celesta J. (Merriman) Bennett in South Haven, Michigan. He graduated with the class of 1940 from South Haven High School. Art served his country in the United States Marine Corps during World War II from 1942 to 1945. He married Elizabeth M. Kozel on June 28, 1947 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bangor and they shared 64 years of marriage before her passing. Art worked at Everett Piano in South Haven from 1947 to 1986 before his retirement. He also owned and operated their family farm. He was a member of St. Basil Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus.

Art was a very capable man having built his own home and farm buildings. He and Mary always had a large and beautiful vegetable garden from which they pickled and canned and froze most of their produce. Art and Mary also made time to have fun with their friends doing things like polka dancing. In his later years, Art enjoyed overseeing his family’s endeavors in farming and building, visiting with family and friends, listening to old country music and watching the news. Art’s grandchildren fondly remember that Grandpa took them fishing, made them a sandbox and got them chickens just because they wanted them. He let them collect tadpoles, taught them to make cucumber boats and helped them make bows and arrows that they shot off the deck. Grandpa Bennett was warm and welcoming to all and the grandchildren’s friends even called him Grandpa.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth Bennett, brothers – Erwin and Loren Bennett, and sisters– Beatrice Funk and Marian Farrell.

Art is survived by his children – Carol (Barry) Nelson of Hartford and Rob (Kathy) Bennett of South Haven; grandchildren – Cal (Lyndsey), Matthew (Jacquelyn), Lauren Bennett (Mike), Chad Nelson (Julie), Kate Nelson (Shane); and great grandchildren – Simon and Sabrina. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews; loving neighbors and his McDonald's coffee friends.

Private family services will be held. Art will be laid to rest in Monks Cemetery in Geneva Township. Memorials may be made in Charles Arthur Bennett’s name to Michigan Flywheeler’s Museum at 06285 68th Street, South Haven, Michigan 49090.