Rev N Bender

The Rev. William N. Bender, a retired United Methodist Minister died Monday April 26th at his home in Manitowish Waters, WI Rev. Bender was a member of the Great Rivers Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church, retiring in 1989. He served Illinois Methodist churches in Hettick-Scottville, Henning-Jamesburg, Dawson, Pekin, Sadorus, and Savoy. He also was a minister in the United Church of Christ serving churches in Wheeling, Illinois, Plymouth, Wisconsin, and Poway, California. Since retirement he has conducted worship services at various area churches and campgrounds at the Crystal Lake campgrounds for several years. He has led a weekly Men’s bible study Breakfast, has been involved in the Community Church’s Madames and Sirs Group, and has been active in the Manitowish Water’s Lions Club of which he was past president and took part in it’s Bingo Scholarship and Summerfest activities. He was born July 23, 1926 in San Pedro, CA. The son of William J and Georgia L. (Millar) Bender. Survivors include his wife, Eula M. (nee Sexson) Bender; daughter Susan Knapstein of Arbor Vitae; son Dale Bender of Howards Grove, WI; brother Theodore Bender of New Jersey and five grandchildren, Christen McFarland, Ryan Bender, Wyatt Knapstein, Alyssa Bender and Ty Bender. Mr. Bender was a veteran of WWII serving in the psychiatric division of the US Navy Hospital corps. His undergraduate work was at Alfred and Cornell Universities, where he did his graduate work in guidance and counseling at the State University of New York. He received a Master of Divinity degree from Garrett Theological Seminary at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL in 1965. In his retirement Bill enjoyed walks in the woods, deer hunting, fishing, and gardening. He was very active in his church. A Memorial Service will be held at Manitowish Waters Community Church on Thursday, April 29th at 2:00 PM with a visitation at the church from noon until the time of the service. A time for food and fellowship will be immediately after the service at the church. Memorials are suggested to Ministry Home Care-Dr. Kate Hospice PO Box 770 Woodruff, WI 54568, Regional Hospice-Grandview Hospital N10561 Grandview Ln Ironwood, MI 49938 or Manitowish Waters Community Church PO Box 69 Manitowish Waters, WI 54545.

Rev N Bender

July 23, 1926 - April 26, 2010