Thomas Leslie Bennett

Thomas Leslie Bennett, devoted father, grandfather and husband, civil engineer, and pillar of church and community, died July 15 at KU Medical Center after complications from heart surgery. He was 71. Tom was Vice President of the Board of Directors at BG Consultants, helping design many of the roads and bridges Manhattanites use today. His hand can also be seen in the College Avenue United Methodist Church fellowship hall addition and in churches throughout Northeast Kansas, plus other projects we may never know about because his donations, time and talent were given quietly and without expectation of reward. That fact makes a full account of Tom’s community involvement nearly impossible. He was active with the Manhattan Breakfast Optimist Club, having served as Club President and in various other club and regional offices. He helped lead the construction of Optimist Park—a complex of baseball fields in Manhattan. He helped distribute donations for the Harvesters Community Food Network. And he volunteered with the Ogden Friendship House of Hope. Tom was perhaps most active at College Avenue United Methodist Church, where he chaired the Board of Trustees, taught adult Sunday school and book study group, and chaired construction of a new building for Ogden Friendship House United Methodist Church. He was a fixture at both locations—a loved and respected church elder. Tom retired in 2016 but continued to be active in the engineering field. He built homes for Habitat for Humanity and was often called upon by the Church Conference to help rebuild structures damaged by tornadoes and other catastrophes. Tom was a gentle soul who steadfastly supported those he loved—even during times when recipients were unwilling or unable to appreciate it. And because he devoted so much of himself to being a good friend, he had innumerable friends in return. Simple pleasures were his favorites: Fishing trips to Branson and Canada. Spending time with his kids and grand kids. Selling Christmas trees with the Optimists. Attending K-State football games with church friends. Tom was born on August 3, 1945 in Hawarden, Iowa. He grew up on his family’s farm and graduated from West Sioux High School in 1963. He earned his Civil Engineering degree from South Dakota State University and was employed at the Kansas Department of Transportation in Topeka from 1968 through 1976, when he left to join BG in its fledgling year. Tom specialized in transportation project design and construction administration for airports, road, pavement and safety projects throughout Kansas. He recently was elected to the Board of Directors of the Engineering Foundation of Kansas. Tom is preceded by his wife, Gayle Graham Bennett, who passed away just 13 days before his death, and by his parents, Clarence “Bud” and Irene Bennett. He is survived by his sister, Rolleen Hofland (LeMars, IA), his daughters, Leslie Bennett Stahl (Cleveland, OH) and Sara Bennett Wealer (Cincinnati, OH), and his grandchildren, Margaret Jo Anne Wealer (13), Nathaniel Thomas Stahl (12), and Beatrice Rea Wealer (8). A “Celebration of Life” is planned for 11 a.m. August 12 at College Avenue United Methodist Church in conjunction with the service for his wife. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to the Manhattan Breakfast Optimist Club, P.O. Box 623, Manhattan, KS 66505-0623, or the Manhattan Area Habitat for Humanity, 727 Poyntz Ave, Manhattan, KS 66502. To leave an online condolence, or for more information or to send a gift visit the funeral home website www.irvinparkview.com. The family has entrusted the arrangements with Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home & Cremation.