grave import

Obituary

A spark from a fireplace may have caused the fire that took the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Van Bennett in their Golf Lane home early Monday morning, Fire Chief Herald Duke said today.
Duke said an investigation into the fire, one of the most disastrous in a Burlington home, was still underway today but “there is a strong possibility it could have started from a spark from the fireplace.”
The fireplace was in the living room, adjacent to a bedroom where the bodies of Van Bennett, 61, and Ona M. Bennett, 60, were found.
Fireman fought the blaze, first reported at 1:15 am by an Iowa Southern Utilities driver until 5 am, and then returned on three occasions to put down small flareups.
The interior of the year-old ranch-style home was damaged throughout and there was some damage to the exterior. Damage estimates ran as high as $50,000.
The Bennett’s only son, Gary, 22, a student at Earlham College, Richmond, Ind., flew back from Pompano Beach, Fla., Monday night. He had gone to Florida to play tennis and was to have returned home before going back to school upon completion of the holidays.
Bennett was a president of the Bennett Home Center and Bennett Building Co. and owner of several buildings in Burlington.
Coroner David Wallen ruled the deaths from “accidental burns and asphyxiation”.
The badly burned body of Bennett was found first by Chief Duke between 2:10 and 2:15. Duke said there was a flashlight under his body. The chief speculated Bennett may have been trying to reach the bedroom window.
Mrs. Bennett’s body was found shortly after by three firemen. She was underneath a window, about three feet from her husband. Their bedroom door was partially open.
Duke said the fire apparently went from the front of the home to the rear, fanned by a west wind.
Max Stone, district engineer for ISU, radioed the first report of the fire to a sub-station operator who phoned police.
Stone, driving out Sunnyside to answer an emergency call at Campbell Chain, noticed the blaze. He described the home as “a mass of flames”.
Among the first on the scene were Dr. Robert Glenn and his wife. Glenn, driving in the Bittersweet area and said he noticed a “rosy glow” in the sky. Investigating, he saw flames leaping from under the eaves of the Bennett home roof.
He went to arouse a neighbor, George Beuckman, who met him at the door. Beuckman reported the fire and Glenn went to the Bennett home in an attempt to enter.
As he tried the door Glenn said, “the picture window exploded”. Glenn then went to the garage but found the door locked. No one in the group which gathered knew if the Bennets were at home.
Firemen used three lines, unusual for a dwelling fire, and poured water into the home for three hours and 45 minutes.
Lady, the Bennett’s pet dog was the only survivor. She was found in the adjoining garage which missed the flames. The Bennett car was not damaged. Asst. Fire Chief Norman Steingreaber said the fire was the worst he had seen in a home. The 20-year veteran reported the blaze was raging “so hard” it could be seen readily from Sunnyside, two blocks away.
The Bennets were the first fire casualties in Burlington since June 16, 1955. Donald LeRoy Adams, 22, lost his life on that date at his Bluff Road home.
Double rites for the Bennetts will be at 2 pm Thursday at Wallen’s chapel. Masonic services will be at 8 pm Wednesday.
Van Bennett was born Sept. 6, 1899, at Cantril, Ia., the son of Nelson N. and Minda VanFleet. He was in partnership at Bennett’s Home Center with Glenn Bennett, no relation, for 25 years and was president of Bennett Motor C., until it was sold four years ago.
A veteran of two wars, Bennett was with the Army during WWI and was an officer with the Navy in WWII. He was a Mason (Malta Lodge), member of the Elks, Shrine, Burlington Golf Club, Flint Hills Club, Outboard Club, the Jesters, and Veterans of WWII.
Ona Bennett was born March 5, 1900, at Catril, the daughter of Dr. Selman and Ellen Stone Casady.
The couple was married on Aug. 30, 1923, at Marion and were members of the First Christian church. Survivors, besides their son, are his father, Nelson N. Bennett, 86, Burlington; her brother, Leland C. Smith, Wauneta, Nebr., and niece, Mrs. Verginia Manning Brush, Colo.
Funeral services for the Bennetts, 160 Golf Ln, will be at Wallen’s Chapel Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock. The Rev. Mr. LZ Patton will officiate. Interment will be at Aspen Grove Cemetery. Masonic services will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Wallen’s Chapel. The family will receive friends at Wallen’s Chapel Wednesday evening from 7 until 9 o’clock.