Nelson Norris Bennett
Born: October 24th, 1874
Died: November 6th, 1963
Obituary
Nelson N. Bennett, 89-year-old retired businessman of 1903 Summer St., died Wednesday in Burlington hospital.
The body is at Elliott-Lunning chapel.
Mr. Bennett was the son of Sylvester H. and Sarah Norris Bennett and was born at Cantril on Oct. 24, 1874. He came to Burlington in 1915. He was married to the former Minda Van Fleet.
Four years later he opened a tire and battery store which evolved into a chain with retail outlets at Keokuk, Ft. Madison, Davenport, Ottumwa, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, and Burlington. He also established a chain of wholesale automobile parts sources in Waterloo, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and Burlington.
During WWII Mr. Bennett sold all of his businesses except the one in Burlington which evolved into the present Bennett Home Center.
Mr. Bennett had been a widower since December of 1952. He was a member of the First Christian church and of the Travelers Protective Assn.
He is survived by a grandson, Gary Nelson Bennett, 160 Golf Lane, and a great-grandchild. A son, Van Bennett, is dead.