Bender, Walter Joseph Paul -- 1912 - 2002

BENDER, BRANDT, PETERSON, HEFFERN, BARTH, HENRY, SWANSON

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 9/19/2011 at 21:42:33

SOURCE: Waukon, Iowa WAUKON STANDARD, November 5, 2002
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Not related)

Funeral services for Walter Bender, age 90, of Decorah, Iowa were held at St. John's Lutheran Church, Locust, Iowa on Saturday November 2, 2002 with Rev. John Mayer officiating. Interment was in Locust Cemetery, Locust, Iowa. Schluter-Balik Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements. Casket bearers were Scott Heffern, Eric Bender, Marc Heffern, Lynette Henry, Michael Henry, and Carsten Christopherson. Honorary pallbearers were Wallace and Mae Christopherson, Palmer and June Anderson, Lennie and Sherry Mellick, Harold and Irene Falck, Willie and Holly Falck, Scott and Linda Kirkeberg and family, and Gary and Denise Baumler.

Walter Joseph Paul Bender, son of Adam and Dora (Brandt) Bender, was born on February 23, 1912, on the family farm in Hesper Township in Winneshiek County, west of Locust, Iowa. Walter attended Canoe School #6. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Locust. On November 21, 1939 he married Doris Peterson at St. John's Parsonage. To this union one daughter was born. In 1957, they became the parents of a foster son, who became a beloved permanent member of the family. Walter and Doris purchased the family farm in 1950. He was a good, hard working farmer. All of his life he had a passion for hunting and fishing. In January of 1986, Doris and Walter moved to Decorah where they pursued their enjoyment of fishing together on the Mississippi River and area trout streams. Walter was an honest and generous, true to his word man. He deeply loved his family, appreciated his good friends, and enjoyed all the visits from the children in the neighborhood. He always had time to spend with his grandchildren, teaching them how to hunt, fish and the ways of life on a farm. He was a lifelong member of St. John's Lutheran Church where he was an active member until he became ill.

Walter Joseph Paul Bender died on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 at his home from progressive supranuclear palsy. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Dean Bender, one sister, Bessie Barth, and 2 brothers, Adam Bender, Jr. and Virgil Bender.

Walter is survived by his wife, Doris Bender of Decorah, Iowa; his daughter, Beverly (Herb) Heffern of Decorah, Iowa; 4 grandchildren, Scott (Angela) Heffern of Ozark, Missouri, Marc (Kristen) Heffern of Decorah, Iowa, Eric (Janice) Bender of Coon Valley, Wisconsin, and Lynette (Michael) Henry of Decorah, Iowa; 4 great-grandchildren, 3 step-great-grandchildren; 1 daughter-in-law, Carol Swanson of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and 1 sister Myrtle Barth of Decorah, Iowa.

Added by Joy Moore Feb. 22, 2018
Source: Times plain Dealer November 13, 2002, Page A3
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee
Transcribed by Joy Moore

Funeral services for Walter Bender of Decorah were held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 2 at St. Johns Lutheran Church, Locust with Rev. John Mayer officiating. Interment was in Locust Cemetery, Locust. Honorary pallbearers were: Wallace and Mae Christopherson, Palmer and June Anderson, Lennie and Sherry Mellick, Harold and Irene Falck, Willie and Holly Falck, Scott and Linda Kirkeberg and family, and Gary and Denice Baumler. Pallbearers were: Scott Heffern, Eric Bender, Marc Heffem, Lynette Henry, Michael Henry, and Carsten Christopherson, Schluter Balik Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Walter, 90, died Wednesday, October 30, 2002 at his home from progressive supranuclear palsy.
Walter Joseph Paul Bender was born February 23, 1912 on the family farm in Hesper Township west of Locust, the son of Adam and Dora (Brandt) Bender. He attended Canoe School #6. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Locust.
On November 21, 1939 he married Doris Peterson at St. Johns Parsonage. One daughter, Beverly, was born. In 1957 their foster son, Dean, came to live with them and became a member of the family. He purchased the family farm in 1950. In January of 1986 they moved to Decorah.
He was a member of St. Johns Lutheran Church. He enjoyed fishing.
He is survived by his wife Doris of Decorah: one daughter: Bev Heffern of Decorah; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; three step great-grandchildren; and one sister: Myrtle Barth of Decorah.
Walter was preceded in death by one son: Dean; his parents; one sister: Bessie Barth; and two brothers: Adam, Jr. and Virgil.

St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Locust, Iowa
 

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