Representative Wayne D. Bennett View All Years

WAYNE D. BENNETT

Wayne D. Bennett was born on November 7, 1927 in Schaller, Iowa, to Wilbur and Blanche Bennett. He passed away on September 3, 2015, at the age of 87. He is survived by his son, Dr. Gary Bennett and his wife Betsy; daughter, Candice Bennett; stepchildren, Jim Irwin and his wife Lori; Tom Irwin and his wife Jean; and Linda Sichenze and her husband John; grandchildren, Emily, Andrew, and Pearl; brother, Bruce Bennett; and sister Barbara Ruchensky.

Bennett graduated from Ida Grove High School in 1944, at the age of 16. After high school he went on to attend Iowa State University eventually returning home to work on the family farm.

He married Barbara Noll on June 5, 1949 at the United Methodist Church in Ida Grove, Iowa and they had two children. Together they made their home south of Galva, where Wayne continued farming. In 1950 he moved to Ida Grove where he began farming with his brother, eventually retiring from farming in 1989. In 2004 he married Jean Irwin at Silver Creek United Methodist Church and welcomed three stepchildren.

Bennett was very active in the community. He was Chair of the Ida Grove 4-H Committee, President and Voting Delegate for the Ida County Farm Bureau, and Chair of the Ida County Soil Conservation District Commissioners. In addition he served as a member of the Cattlemen’s Association, Department of Economic Development, Lions Club, Ida Grove Chamber of Commerce, Holstein Town and Country Club, and Lay Leader and member of the Silver Creek United Methodist Church.

Wayne Bennett was an Ida County Republican. He served in the Iowa House from 1973–1993, during the 65th, 66th, 67th, 68th, 69th, 70th, 71st, 72nd, 73rd, and 74th General Assemblies; and in the Iowa Senate from 1993-1997, during the 75th and 76th General Assemblies.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable Wayne D. Bennett, the State has lost an honored citizen and faithful and useful public servant, and that the Senate by this resolution expresses its appreciation of his service to the State and tenders its sympathy and kindest regards to the members of his family.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the Senate and that the Secretary of the Senate be instructed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

Amanda Ragan

Jason Schultz

Mark Segebart

Committee