KEWANEE – Karen E. Bennett, 81, of Kewanee, died at 6:06 a.m., Saturday, April 27, 2024, at the Apostolic Christian Skylines in Peoria.

She was born January 19, 1943, in Peoria, the daughter of Dale and Harriet (Field) Stafford. She married Sherman “Sherm” Bennett on April 21, 1963, and just celebrated 61 years of marriage. Survivors include her husband of Kewanee, her son, Brett (Kristina) Bennett of Kewanee, her daughter, Kimber (Mark) Rose of Kewanee, two sisters, Elaine (Bob) Steffen of East Peoria and Helen Stafford (Randy Beeman) of Bartonville, a sister-in-law, Frannie Stafford of Elmwood, her grandchildren, Payton Rose and his fiancée Allison McDowell of Kewanee and Hattie Rose and her fiancé Mike Forstrom of Toulon and a cousin, Jean Richmond of Galesburg. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Jerry Stafford

Karen was farm wife and had worked as a cafeteria cook at Wethersfield School. She was a huge supporter of Abilities Plus and was a 15-year volunteer at the resale shop. She had been a member of the Stark County Home Bureau. She was an animal lover who enjoyed gardening and canning, yardwork, fishing, doing yoga, dancing, listening to country music and trips to Nashville and Branson. She was devoted to her family and loved spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 4 at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee with Kevin Schrock officiating. A visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Friday, May 3 at the funeral home and an additional visitation will be held one hour prior to the services on Saturday. The burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Gardens in rural Kewanee. Memorials may be directed to Abilities Plus or to the Parkinson’s Foundation.

This obituary may be viewed and private condolences left at www.ruxfuneralhome.com.