David Joe Bennett

David Joe Bennett, 74, of Palestine, IL, passed away on May 23, 2023. He was born on April 29, 1949, in Terre Haute, IN, the son of Mona I. (Baughman) Dunigan & Verlin Dunigan. Raised in Shelburn, IN, he attended North Central and went on to help his cousin Auggie start Martin Maintenance in Shelburn. After working for Bob Harris in Terre Haute for a time, he moved to Palestine in the early 1980s. Locally, he worked for Briggs Pottery and Hershey, but much of his career was spent at Victor Dana, where he worked as a machine operator for 31 years before retiring on July 9, 2016.

Away from work, Dave could often be found with a fishing pole in hand, and these quiet moments were some of the most peace-filled of his life. This avid outdoorsman also coon hunted for a time, but as he got older, he grew to appreciate the simple pleasure of puttering around in his yard. His good friend and neighbor, Les Stork, could attest to this, as the two often worked on lawnmowers together. Dave spent not a small amount of time tinkering on old cars as well, and was, by all accounts, a car nut! In fact, he kept a friendly car count competition with his brother, Mike. His last prized possession was a "rat rod," which he generously gave to his son-in-law, Levi (though you would have thought he'd have given it to his beloved grandsons if you were to listen to them argue over it!) His passion for all things automobile was perhaps born out of years of attending the Newport Antique Auto Hill Climb with his family. His love of antique cars never waned, as evidenced by his religiously watching Barrett Jackson and Mecum Car Auctions. An avid fan of Westerns, Dave regularly had his TV tuned to the Grit Channel as well, and he spent countless hours enjoying cowboy shows with his granddaughter. This longtime Cardinals baseball fan was recently thrilled to find that his residing nursing home carried St. Louis ballgames, bringing excitement and joy in the twilight of his life.

A lover of country music, Dave frequented the Boot City Opry and enjoyed artists such as Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton. He enjoyed Dolly's hit "Jolene" so much that he taught it to his grandson Andrew, and listening to him sing it was a great joy in his life. In fact, it was obvious that his grandchildren were each the apples of their granddaddy's eye, as Dave lit up every time he saw them. While antiquing, he often sought cast metal toys they could play with. In so doing, he created space for many precious and lasting memories.

In the end, his priorities were always wrapped up in his family, whether living for his grandchildren or making his daughter Samantha mad (a pastime from which he derived great pleasure!) We who are left to remember this private man could never forget Dave's unwavering honesty and will long admire the humor and simplicity that saturated his 74 years. We are thankful that Dave Bennett leaves behind a legacy of cherished memories, laughter, and love.

He is survived by his son, Shawn Keith Bennett; his daughter & son-in-law, Samantha & Levi Knoblett (rural Palestine, IL); his grandchildren, Kamie, Andrew, and Jackson David; his sisters, Becky Harvey (NC) and Paula Watson (TX); his sister-in-law, Connie Lee (FL); and by several nieces, nephews, and cousins, including Auggie & Joann Martin, (Samantha's godparents).

He married Brenda Kaye Decker on December 4, 1971, and she preceded him in death on September 12, 1998. He was also preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, Mike Lee.

It was Dave's wish to be cremated without a public service. The Goodwine Funeral Home in Palestine is in charge of these arrangements.