LEWISTON – Joseph A. Bennett, 84, of 180 Central Ave., Lewiston died peacefully at his residence on Saturday, July 24, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born Jose Alberto Bennett in Baltimore, Md. on March 22, 1920, the son of the late Thomas Richard and Maria Mercedes (Vasquez) Bennett.

He was predeceased by his loving wife of 43 years, Yolande Lemieux Bennett whom he married on April 7, 1947 and who died on Oct. 26, 1990.

He was raised in Washington, D.C., and entered the U.S. Army in 1942. He served in World War II in Africa and India and left the service in 1946. He graduated from the University of Maryland in 1951 and had a 38-year career with the Federal Government, most of it in Heidelberg, Germany. He “retired” in 1980 to Lewiston, and worked for the Maine Milk Commission until 1990.

He was a special man who loved life and people. If you knew him, he made you smile with his wonderful personality and corny jokes. He was an avid runner well into his seventies and loved music and dancing, taking dance lessons into his eighties. He was a die-hard Celtics fan and never missed an opportunity to take his children and grandchildren to see the Harlem Globetrotters. He was always involved with his children’s lives, keeping up with all their sporting events and other activities. He was known as “Grandad” to all his grandchildren and their friends. For the past few years he was a volunteer at Central Maine Medical Center. He loved spending time with Marion playing gin rummy, dominoes and cribbage. He never failed to stump us with his many math problems and riddles. He was a truly unique man and we will miss him always.

He is survived by his nine children, Richard Bennett of Germany, Suzanne Bennett and her husband, Steven Hord of Virginia, Eileen Gregory and her husband, Fred of Missouri, Barbara Przybojewski and her husband, John of Virginia, Harry Bennett of California, Thomas C. Bennett and his wife, Mary of Auburn, Heidi Olson and her husband, Chris of Illinois, Kelly Bennett Rodrigue and her husband, Scott Brown of Lewiston and Kevin Bennett of California; his sister, Alicia Dullnig of Maryland; his special “second chance” love, Marion Rabassa of Lewiston; 16 grandchildren, Jay, Travis, Shaun, Sara, Danny, Brian, Nicole, Erin, Natasha, Kelsey, Justin, Kirby, Kristen, Zane, Bella and Yolande and nine great-grandchildren Kelly, Jason, Alex, Nathan, Krysta, Wyatt, Katrina, Maisy and Jake. Also surviving is his life-long friend Charles “Izzie” Izaguirre of Maryland.

He was predeceased by two grandchildren, Jessica and Derek; his brother, Richard, and his sister, Gloria.