Joseph “Joe” Bennett of Stillwater, MN, and Punta Gorda, FL, passed away on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at the age of 79 after several years of fighting four different cancers. He was born on May 15, 1947, in St. Paul, MN, and grew up in North St. Paul and Maplewood, MN. He attended St. Peter’s grade school in North St. Paul and graduated from Hill High School in 1965 where he was the star pitcher of their baseball team. He also played basketball and football.
Joe joined the Air Force after high school and served most of his time at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, NV, as a fireman. He returned home to Minnesota and joined the Carpenters & Joiners Local 548 union as a Millwright. He worked on projects ranging from simple conveyor systems to installing nuclear reactors at power plants in Minnesota.
Joe loved to golf, fish, and play cribbage! He and the family enjoyed over 40 years of fishing for muskies and pan fish on Bone Lake in Luck, WI. He loved golfing. He was always “practicing” and came home many times after practice with “a new swing”! He loved playing in cribbage tournaments with family and friends.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Howard “Bud” and Betty Bennett. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Cheryl; daughters, Dawn, of Bayport, Cathi Williams, of Minnetonka, Michelle Punahele Knoles (Dayton), of Santa Clara, CA; son, Joe Barnes (Carolynn), of White House, TN; grandsons: Howie, Marty, Joel, Jordan, Brian; granddaughter, Kylie; sister, Margaret Gustafson (Richard); as well as many nieces and nephews and friends.
Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 2 to 6 PM downstairs at the Bayport American Legion, 263 3rd Street N., Bayport, MN. Another celebration will be held on February 20, 2027, from 1pm-4pm at his home at the River Forest Village Clubhouse, 4300 Riverside Dr., Punta Gorda, FL.
In lieu of flowers, we are asking that donations be sent to one of two veteran charities (DAV or Housing First Minnesota) where the donations are not spent on administration and fundraising. Joe's cousin, Bob Bennett, works with an organization called Housing First Minnesota. They build homes for homeless veterans. As Bob says, "there are two words that should never be together, homeless and veteran.” Please see below for further information and links.
If you really love sending flowers, please go through a local florist website and not through a web-based shop! Here's our favorite ('cause she's in the family): Northfield Floral (507)645-4956, website forgetmenotnorthfield.com [email protected]
