John T. Bennett

On November 21, 2020, in true reclusive style, John Thomas Bennett, of St. Charles, Missouri, decided to depart this life alone and enter the kingdom of God. John was born in Bedford, Ohio in 1961, the second of five children to his parents, Frances and the late William Bennett, who passed away in 1989. As a child, John excelled at sports and delighted in sometimes tormenting his surviving siblings, Michael, Laura (Latta), Christopher and Deborah (Mocniak) in various ways. He was also the victim of some of their juvenile displays of ignorance. All in all, he was a typical brother who was loved by his family. After numerous moves and schools, his parents settled in Northfield, Ohio and John earned his high school diploma from Nordonia High School in 1979. During his high school days John was on the wrestling team and made it to state matches in Ohio at least twice. Following his family's tradition of military service, he entered active duty in the United States Navy shortly after high school and served until he was honorably discharged in 1987. During his tour of duty he served aboard the USS Mars (AFS-1), the USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) and at Pensacola Naval Base. He remained proud of his Naval Service right up until his death. After entering civilian life, John used his Navy training to good advantage and found employment in the information technology field and worked for numerous companies over the years in different areas of the country. In 1998, he moved to St, Charles, Missouri and was adopted by the family of Michael and Shanna Spraul (his friends) and their four children, Jimmy, Ellen, Aislynn and Benny where he remained until his demise. John never received the blessing of being married and having his own children. Because of this, he lived vicariously through the Spraul’s children and was engaged in their upbringing. During his life John earned a brown belt in the martial arts, he studied Asian cultures, and took care of four cats who he loved dearly. He was an avid marksman and loved studying survival skills. He enjoyed watching the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team and was very fond of rubbing it in with his older brother when they won the World Series in 2006 and 2011. John was also a Catholic who attended mass when he was able. The final two plus years of his life, John struggled with undergoing dialysis three times per week. This was due to a viral infection that he acquired while serving in the Navy. Because of this, John was not able to travel to see his grandniece Clairalynn, the daughter of his niece Rebecca Latta or his grandnephew Andrew, the son of his niece McKenzie Mocniak. John did not get to say good bye to his nephews Christopher Latta, Brandon Mocniak, and Joseph Latta, or his brother-in-laws David Latta or Charles Mocniak. Being the humble man he was, John did not want a funeral and his final wishes were honored. He was cremated and interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Missouri.  He was a kind and gentle man who will be missed by many. He truly made the world a better place for the lives he touched during his all too short time in the physical realm. His cremation was handled by the Cremation Society of Missouri.