Conneaut, OH - Delmas Cecil Bennett, 91, died June 21, 2026, at University Hospital Geauga Campus. He was born on January 25, 1935, during the Great Depression to Cecil and Margaret Bennett in Conneaut, OH.

Delmas loved Conneaut and lived there after graduating from Rowe High School. Service to the community was a large part of Delmas's life. He was awarded a Boy Scout Medal of Honor by the National Court of Honor of the Boy Scouts of America for saving the life of Richard Gerren from drowning in 1952 when he was 17 years old.

On May 21, 1955, Delmas and Rosemary Kananen began a marriage of 68 years, which lasted until Rosemary's death in 2023. Delmas loved fishing in Conneaut Creek and Lake Erie. Both he and Rosemary were avid canoers and sailors and Delmas twice served as Commodore for Lake Erie Boat Club. Delmas was a SCUBA diving pioneer, he bought his first Aqua-Lung (SCUBA) gear, mask, and swim fins in the 1950s — long before it was a mainstream sport. Delmas served the Conneaut community in a variety of ways including as a Boy Scout and Indian Guides leader and for 50 years as a volunteer fireman with Station 4 (Amboy Road) and as a Search and Recovery SCUBA diver. Delmas was particularly proud that he donated nearly 30 gallons of blood over his lifetime to the American Red Cross. Delmas and Rosemary were active members of the Conneaut Historical Society, and the Conneaut Library Book Club. They will be sorely missed by Amboy United Methodist Church where they both served in many capacities and on numerous boards. Besides running Homestead B&B for many years with Rosemary, Delmas also worked at Linde Air, and Creative Millwork of Ohio, Inc. in Ashtabula.

Survivors include his daughters, Willa (George) Schrlau of Chagrin Falls, OH and Kate (Patrick) Casey of Murfreesboro, TN ; sons, Bruce (Susan) Bennett of Chardon, OH and Andy (Cindy) Bennett of Lino Lakes, MN; grandchildren Gavin (Teresa) Bennett, Adam (Vanessa) Ewing, Ian (Keely) Bennett, Joshua Ewing, Evan Bennett, Anya (Lisa) Hueing, Grant (Renee) Bennett, Courtney Childers, Katie Childers and Jack Bennett; great-grandchildren Joy-Linn, Andrew, Greg, Maxwell, Cora, Oliver, and Theodore; and sister Cecilia (Duane) Smith of North Port, FL.

Delmas was preceded in death by his wife, Rosemary; brother, Thomas Bennett; and parents.

Burial will be July 11 at 9a.m. at the West Williamsfield Cemetery followed by a visiting hour at Amboy United Methodist Church, 554 W. Main Rd. Conneaut from 11a.m.-12p.m. A Celebration of Life Service will be at 12p.m. at the Amboy United Methodist church in Conneaut.

Contributions may be made in Del's memory to the Amboy United Methodist Church, 554 W. Main Road, Conneaut, Ohio 44030 and to the Conneaut Historical Society, P.O. Box 563, Conneaut, Ohio 44030.

Marcy Funeral Home, 208 Liberty St., Conneaut, OH has been entrusted with arrangements.

Visit www.marcyfuneralhome.com to leave a condolence message or light a candle in his memory.