Ralph Eugene Bennett III

Ralph Eugene Bennett III, 71, of Dyer, IN, passed away March 2, 2010, at home. He was born March 25, 1938, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the son of late Ralph (Gene) and Dorothy Bennett. Ralph was the oldest of 3 siblings. On June 15, 1963, he married Delores (Dee) Viola Rau, who survives.Ralph graduated from University Of Wisconsin in 1962 receiving a BS degree in civil engineering. He received a MS in Civil Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1972. After several years at Inland Steel, he was a professor at Purdue University in Hammond from 1970 through his retirement in 2007 and served as Department Head from 1979-1984. Ralph served on the park board for Dyer, IN and was instrumental in developing the park system within the town. He had a passion for teaching students and watching his graduates develop careers. He gave his students his all and expected the same from his students. In addition to teaching, he developed and led his world-acclaimed scaffolding courses and undertook adventures which included climbing to the roof of the Hancock Building in Chicago, scaling the glaciers of Alaska, and walking the Great Wall of China. He was a friend to everyone and given a few minutes, a stranger no one. He lived his life to the fullest and remained true to his passions including genealogy, Studebakers, the Green Bay Packers and the Wisconsin Badgers, and sharing stories of his upbringing with his grandchildren. Ralph received many awards from his life’s work including: Unsung Hero Award from the Scaffold Industry Association (SIA); Special Recognition Award from the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers (ISPE); Coupling Pin Award from SIA; Outstanding Service Award from SIA; Engineer of the Year Award from ISPE; Distinguished Service Award from Purdue University Calumet Alumni Association; and Citizen of the Year Award from Lions International Dyer, IN Club.In addition to his wife, Ralph is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Ralph and Claire Bennett of Ridgewood, NJ.; son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Keri Bennett of Chicago, IL; son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Kristie Bennett of Chicago, IL; grandchildren, Alyssa and Bryan Bennett of Ridgewood, NJ; brother, Dick Bennett(Jan) of Loudon, TN; sister-in-law Tricia Bennett. Ralph was preceded in death by his brother, David of Omaha, NE.Visitation will be held from 3-8pm Friday at Kish Funeral Home at 10000 Calumet Avenue in Munster, IN. Funeral service will be at Immanuel United Church of Christ located at 2201 Azalea Drive in Highland, IN at 11am.In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made in Ralph's memory to American Heart Association, www.americanheart.org.