Obituary of Bernard James Bennett

BERNARD “JIM” JAMES BENNETT It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Bernard “Jim” Bennett, late of Regina, SK on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at the age of 94 years. Jim was born in 1922 and grew up on a farm near Yorkton. He was a fuel dealer and eventually had a Petro Canada station in Flin Flon, MB. Jim retired with his wife Eva Bennett (née Hoppe) to Winnipeg, MB, wintering in Sun City, Arizona, which they loved. When Eva died from cancer in 2003, Jim moved to Regina to be closer to family, while continuing to enjoy winters in Arizona. Jim’s life-story was shaped by what he did in his youth. He enlisted in the army to fight in World War II and became a scout and sniper platoon member of what has been called “Canada’s most storied Regiment – the Black Watch Battalion”. Jim was presented, in respect of the 70th anniversary of D-Day, with the rank of Chevalier/Knight of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour for his WWII role in the liberation of France, beginning with the Juno beach amphibious landing on D-Day. His story, along with that of five other platoon members, has become a piece of Canadian history that will survive, due in part to a 2016 television docudrama “Black Watch Snipers” produced by Yap Films and aired on History Channel. Jim was the last survivor of the war heroes highlighted in that docudrama, predeceased by Dale Sharpe, Jim “Hook” Wilkinson, Russell “Sandy” Sanderson, and Mike Brunner. Jim was predeceased by his parents, Charles and May (Stewart) Bennett; wife Eva Bennett; siblings, Margaret (Gerald) Kehoe, Helen Bennett, Kathleen (Pat) McCormick, William Bennett, Mary (Tommy) Gleason, Gerald Bennett, Robert Bennett, John “Jack” (Rosanne) Bennett, and Eileen Yaretz. He is survived by brother Raymond (Kathleen) Bennett; sisters-in-law, Geraldine Bennett, Anne Bennett, Miriam Bennett, Doris Walker, and Linda Zordel; and brother-in-law Louis Yaretz. Jim is also mourned by his niece Heather Zordel; as well as numerous other nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and friends. Funeral Service will be held at Speers Funeral Chapel, 2136 College Avenue, Regina, SK on Monday, March 6, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. Interment will be in Yorkton Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Jim may be made to The Royal Canadian Legion, 1820 Cornwall Street, Regina, SK S4P 2K2 or a charity of choice. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.speersfuneralchapel.com