Paul Bennett

Paul Ray Bennett, 73, of Ansley & Lincoln, Nebraska, passed away May 21st, 2016 in Lincoln, NE. Born in Litchfield, NE to (Harvey) Lee Bennett and (Mabel) Florence (Farnsworth) Bennett on July 17, 1942. He lived most of his life in the Litchfield/Ansley, Nebraska area. He married his lifetime love, (Bonita) Bonnie (McMahan), May 21, 1960. They had three children, Jeffrey, Alison and Mitchel. He was a great father and as proud as he was of them, that joy was surpassed by the joy he had for his grandchildren Brogan, Brooke, Alyssa, Tatumn, Nathan and Charlie. He spent much of his early life on the farm and was the youngest of four brothers: Roger, Harold and Dean. He was a proud member of the Jolly Boys 4H club and learned many things, including cooking which his family has enjoyed immensely, especially his pancakes, biscuits and gravy and the self invented “Bennett Slop”. He graduated from Litchfield High School in 1960 and from Kearney State College and eventually earned his Specialist degree in education. He entered teaching at Ansley Public School. He truly enjoyed teaching and coaching students and still maintained relationships with many of his students. He moved into administration as the Principal of Ansley Public Schools and served his last years in education as Superintendent. He then began selling insurance. He started small then opened his own office. In the beginning, he might have one visitor a day and that was usually Roger Schmidt stopping in for coffee. By the time he retired from insurance, he had built a successful agency serving many in the community. He was a proud member of the United Methodist Church in Ansley. He enjoyed serving the Lord. He was involved in the church with bible studies, youth activities and the United Methodist Men. He loved Easter breakfasts and his family enjoyed his special blueberry muffins he helped prepare for these breakfasts. He and Bonnie served on a mission trip to Panama and worked across the district. He enjoyed so many things in life; the Lord, family and friends, but we would be remiss to not mention his great passion for fishing, sports especially anything (and we mean ANYTHING) Cornhuskers and peanut butter (on everything; pancakes, popcorn, cake, crackers, EVERYTHING) He was proceeded in death by his parents, brother and sister in law, Roger and Roberta Bennett, and infant son Jeffery. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; daughter, Alison and her two daughters; Brogan and Tatumn Bennett of Lincoln, son Mitchel and his wife Deb and their children Brooke, Alyssa, Nathan and Charlie of Pleasant Dale, NE and his brothers and sister-in-laws; Harold and Patty Bennett of McCook, NE and Dean and Christine Bennett of Pottsboro, TX, many nieces and nephews that he loved tremendously and was aware and grateful of the blessing he received from countless friends. He will be deeply missed and forever loved. He would want to leave you with these two things: God is good all the time, All the time, God is good and, always, GO BIG