By Jim Meridith
Posted: Updated:
11 Comments
  • Visitation

    Wednesday, August 12, 2020

    9:00 am to 11:00 am

    St. Joseph Church, Lebanon, IL.

  • Service

    Wednesday, August 12, 2020

    11:00 am

    St. Joseph Church, Lebanon, IL

  • Full Obituary

    Jewett “Skip” Bennett, 85, of Lebanon, IL, passed away Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at Cedar Ridge Health and Rehab Center in Lebanon, after years of battling dementia.

    Skip was an Army paratrooper and told the story of how he saved his fellow trooper during a night jump when his friend’s chute failed to open.  Both men came down on one chute safely.  Skip made the front page of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

    Skip truly loved cops and police work.  After the Army, he earned his degree at Washington University and joined the St. Louis Police Force.  He also served in the County Department and was an instructor at the St. Louis Police Academy.  In 1970 He was invited to come to Belleville Area College (SWIC) and start the Administration of Justice program and Police Academy, which is still very successful today.  Most of his years in police work were spent training sworn officers, chiefs, and sheriffs in the nearby seven counties, through the Southwestern Illinois Law Enforcement Commission, where he retired as Director in 1999.

    His next years were spent at his country retreat in southeast Missouri, where he enjoyed freedom, beautiful scenery, his dogs, his movies, and his wine.

    He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Mildred Bennett; brother, Derek Bennett; nephew Brooke Bennett, and a daughter, April Lynn.

    Skip is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Kay Bennett, Lebanon, IL; brother, Lance (Linda) Bennett, Baytown, TX; sisters, Kim (Monroe) Mountford, St. Louis, MO, Lynn Bennett and Lisa (Jeff) Kerr, Tallahassee, FL; sister-in-law, Ruth Bennett, Switzerland.  He is also survived by many, very special and loving nieces, nephews, and great niece and nephews.

    In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the SWIC Police Academy Scholarship Fund, which was established in Skip’s honor, or since he and Kay were so involved with Pro Life, they have also requested memorials be made to the Pregnancy Care Center, 180 So. 3rd St., Suite 150, Belleville, IL 62221.

    **Please wear a mask, practice social distancing, and refrain from hugs and handshakes at the visitation and Celebration Mass*

    Visitation:  Wednesday, August 12, 2020, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, at St. Joseph Church, Lebanon, IL.

    Celebration Mass:  Wednesday, August 12, 2020, 11:00 am, St. Joseph Church, Lebanon, IL

    Clergy: Fr. Jim Margason, Pastor

    Interment: at a later date

    Meridith Funeral Home, Lebanon, Illinois.

Condolences are reviewed and published within 24 hours.

11 Condolences
 
  1. Terry Aaron / August 6, 2020 at 10:44 am

    Skip was one of my best friends and the Godfather of my daughter Natasha. Their love was strong and still is. I’ll forever miss him. The wonderful visits we had with Skip & Kay burn deep in our hearts. “Skip, the canoe, and Terry too!” This poem will be published soon in his honor.

  2. Barb Maue (former teacher at Damiansville Elem.) / August 7, 2020 at 7:52 am

    I send my sympathy to Kay and all family members and friends of Skip. Let the fond memories of his long life comfort you. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

  3. Pat Suydam / August 7, 2020 at 7:59 am

    Please accept our condolences, Kay. Take care! Jon and Pat Suydam

  4. Rosemarie Schrage / August 7, 2020 at 8:27 am

    Even though we lost sight of each other over the years, Ray and I still remember one incident where you, Kay, and Skip were sitting on our living room couch. Kay and I became friends when we took classes together at SIU-E. That was in the early 1980s. Kay, dear friend, our deep condolences. Herzliches Beileid.

  5. Lori Jansen / August 7, 2020 at 9:47 am

    You have my sympathy, Kay. I knew very little about your husband, but he must have been a courageous and self -giving man. You and your family are in my prayers.
    Sincerely, Lori Jansen

  6. clara harrison / August 7, 2020 at 3:20 pm

    Skip will be missed. He helped me a lot when I was in school years ago, he even gave me a part time job at SILEC every once in awhile. Law Enforcement world has lost another good one.

  7. Sgt.Ron Borkowski Ret. / August 7, 2020 at 10:36 pm

    Skip loved police officers

  8. Joseph Hiles & Susan Garner / August 8, 2020 at 8:35 pm

    Skip was one of the most fascinating people I have ever known. Highly intelligent and interesting to talk with. We spent many a weekend at his “Hideaway” in Southwest Missouri. Some of the greatest memories in our lives centered around time spent on the front porch with my coffee and the magnificent sounds of the forest…peaceful and with nature. We called it the “Castle in the Woods” and it smacked of Skip and Kay and God’s creations. We talk about those times every week.
    Skip had a very positive effect on many lives.
    Kay was a most loving, faithful and caring wife. She is and always will be our valued friend.. They were very fortunate to have found each other and we are blessed to be able to call them friends!
    Go with God, Skip!!

    Joseph Hiles and Susan Garner

  9. BILL RAUCH. DSN 40 CPD / August 8, 2020 at 9:05 pm

    God Bless Skip

  10. Larry McGuire / August 9, 2020 at 8:01 am

    There is little doubt that Skip had an influence in my life and to my future in law enforcement. He prodded us now Genuine Antique Police Officers to become professionals. He and I became friends. I really liked Skip. He will be missed. And to the many law enforcement officers out there today. . . Know it was people like Skip who brought law enforcement knowledge to our cadre. May Skip rest in peace; he earned it.

  11. Ben Dickmann / August 18, 2022 at 9:28 pm

    For some inexplicable reason, Skip entered my thoughts this evening. He was passionate about law enforcement training and officer safety. He ensured that the law enforcement community was offered a balance of programs from the basic operational practices and procedures to classes that taught the importance of understanding cultural diversity. In many ways, he was ahead of his time – certainly ahead of many of his peers. His programs were available to every agency in his multi-county service region. He knew the critical importance of training for both large and small agencies. He lived and loved his job.
    Ben Dickmann, Edwardsville
    (Police Chief/ City Administrator – Retired)

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