Kenneth Clifford Bender, 85, of Wooster, formerly of Estero, Fla., passed away Tuesday, July 15, 2014, at Shady Lawn Nursing Home, Dalton, after a lengthy illness.
He was born Oct. 18, 1928, in Marion to Myrtle F. (Mathews) and Philip A. Bender. Ken was a World War II Air Force veteran, and a graduate of North Central College. He then obtained a masters of education from Case Western Reserve University.
Along with his wife, Jane, he raised his family in Vermilion, was employed as a physical education teacher in the Lorain Public Schools, retiring in 1984. He also managed Sun-Fun-Swim Club and YMCA in Vermilion. He enjoyed working with the kids and teaching swimming lessons. His favorite activities included traveling, camping, fishing, golfing, round dancing, church activities and spending time with his family.
He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Fla., and had been a long time member of First Lutheran Church in Lorain, before retiring to Florida.
He was active in church council, Kiwanis, was a referee for football, basketball and lacrosse, and spent a short term as building inspector and was on the zoning review board in Vermilion. While in Florida, he served on the Lee County Election Board.
Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Ethel Jane (Wilson) Bender, whom he married Aug. 18, 1951; children, Mark (Jane) Bender of Indianapolis, Ind., Joel (Lisa) Bender of Wooster, Chris (Tom) Lesnar, of Freeland, Mich., and Bruce (Peggy) Bender of Commerce Township, Mich.; grandchildren, Katie (John) Bender of Astoria, N.Y., Andrew (Sarah) Bender of Chicago, Ill., Erin (Brian) Ransom of Wooster, Megan Lesnar of Grand Rapids, Mich., Scott Lesnar and Breanne Lesnar, both of Freeland, Mich., Rachel (Jairus) Baird of Kalamazoo, Mich., Kim (Scott) Martin of Commerce Township, Mich., Trisha Bender of Louisville, Ky.; great-grandsons, Owen Ransom and Kenton Baird; and brothers, Ralph (Barb) Bender of Turtletown, Tenn., and Paul (Judy) Bender of Lebanon.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Hazel Florida, Mildred Koehler, and Jeannette Shields; and brothers, Edgar, Auguste, Richard and Jack Bender.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Roberts Funeral Home-Sherwood Chapel, Wooster, is assisting the family. Online tributes may be made at www.RobertsFuneralHome.com.
Memorial donations can be made to Zion Lutheran Church, 7401 Winkler Road, Fort Myers, Fla. 33919; or LifeCare Hospice, 2525 Back Orrville Road, Wooster 44691.
He was born Oct. 18, 1928, in Marion to Myrtle F. (Mathews) and Philip A. Bender. Ken was a World War II Air Force veteran, and a graduate of North Central College. He then obtained a masters of education from Case Western Reserve University.
Along with his wife, Jane, he raised his family in Vermilion, was employed as a physical education teacher in the Lorain Public Schools, retiring in 1984. He also managed Sun-Fun-Swim Club and YMCA in Vermilion. He enjoyed working with the kids and teaching swimming lessons. His favorite activities included traveling, camping, fishing, golfing, round dancing, church activities and spending time with his family.
He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Fla., and had been a long time member of First Lutheran Church in Lorain, before retiring to Florida.
He was active in church council, Kiwanis, was a referee for football, basketball and lacrosse, and spent a short term as building inspector and was on the zoning review board in Vermilion. While in Florida, he served on the Lee County Election Board.
Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Ethel Jane (Wilson) Bender, whom he married Aug. 18, 1951; children, Mark (Jane) Bender of Indianapolis, Ind., Joel (Lisa) Bender of Wooster, Chris (Tom) Lesnar, of Freeland, Mich., and Bruce (Peggy) Bender of Commerce Township, Mich.; grandchildren, Katie (John) Bender of Astoria, N.Y., Andrew (Sarah) Bender of Chicago, Ill., Erin (Brian) Ransom of Wooster, Megan Lesnar of Grand Rapids, Mich., Scott Lesnar and Breanne Lesnar, both of Freeland, Mich., Rachel (Jairus) Baird of Kalamazoo, Mich., Kim (Scott) Martin of Commerce Township, Mich., Trisha Bender of Louisville, Ky.; great-grandsons, Owen Ransom and Kenton Baird; and brothers, Ralph (Barb) Bender of Turtletown, Tenn., and Paul (Judy) Bender of Lebanon.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Hazel Florida, Mildred Koehler, and Jeannette Shields; and brothers, Edgar, Auguste, Richard and Jack Bender.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Roberts Funeral Home-Sherwood Chapel, Wooster, is assisting the family. Online tributes may be made at www.RobertsFuneralHome.com.
Memorial donations can be made to Zion Lutheran Church, 7401 Winkler Road, Fort Myers, Fla. 33919; or LifeCare Hospice, 2525 Back Orrville Road, Wooster 44691.
Kenneth Clifford Bender, 85, of Wooster, formerly of Estero, Fla., passed away Tuesday, July 15, 2014, at Shady Lawn Nursing Home, Dalton, after a lengthy illness.
He was born Oct. 18, 1928, in Marion to Myrtle F. (Mathews) and Philip A. Bender. Ken was a World War II Air Force veteran, and a graduate of North Central College. He then obtained a masters of education from Case Western Reserve University.
Along with his wife, Jane, he raised his family in Vermilion, was employed as a physical education teacher in the Lorain Public Schools, retiring in 1984. He also managed Sun-Fun-Swim Club and YMCA in Vermilion. He enjoyed working with the kids and teaching swimming lessons. His favorite activities included traveling, camping, fishing, golfing, round dancing, church activities and spending time with his family.
He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Fla., and had been a long time member of First Lutheran Church in Lorain, before retiring to Florida.
He was active in church council, Kiwanis, was a referee for football, basketball and lacrosse, and spent a short term as building inspector and was on the zoning review board in Vermilion. While in Florida, he served on the Lee County Election Board.
Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Ethel Jane (Wilson) Bender, whom he married Aug. 18, 1951; children, Mark (Jane) Bender of Indianapolis, Ind., Joel (Lisa) Bender of Wooster, Chris (Tom) Lesnar, of Freeland, Mich., and Bruce (Peggy) Bender of Commerce Township, Mich.; grandchildren, Katie (John) Bender of Astoria, N.Y., Andrew (Sarah) Bender of Chicago, Ill., Erin (Brian) Ransom of Wooster, Megan Lesnar of Grand Rapids, Mich., Scott Lesnar and Breanne Lesnar, both of Freeland, Mich., Rachel (Jairus) Baird of Kalamazoo, Mich., Kim (Scott) Martin of Commerce Township, Mich., Trisha Bender of Louisville, Ky.; great-grandsons, Owen Ransom and Kenton Baird; and brothers, Ralph (Barb) Bender of Turtletown, Tenn., and Paul (Judy) Bender of Lebanon.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Hazel Florida, Mildred Koehler, and Jeannette Shields; and brothers, Edgar, Auguste, Richard and Jack Bender.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Roberts Funeral Home-Sherwood Chapel, Wooster, is assisting the family. Online tributes may be made at www.RobertsFuneralHome.com.
Memorial donations can be made to Zion Lutheran Church, 7401 Winkler Road, Fort Myers, Fla. 33919; or LifeCare Hospice, 2525 Back Orrville Road, Wooster 44691.
He was born Oct. 18, 1928, in Marion to Myrtle F. (Mathews) and Philip A. Bender. Ken was a World War II Air Force veteran, and a graduate of North Central College. He then obtained a masters of education from Case Western Reserve University.
Along with his wife, Jane, he raised his family in Vermilion, was employed as a physical education teacher in the Lorain Public Schools, retiring in 1984. He also managed Sun-Fun-Swim Club and YMCA in Vermilion. He enjoyed working with the kids and teaching swimming lessons. His favorite activities included traveling, camping, fishing, golfing, round dancing, church activities and spending time with his family.
He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Fla., and had been a long time member of First Lutheran Church in Lorain, before retiring to Florida.
He was active in church council, Kiwanis, was a referee for football, basketball and lacrosse, and spent a short term as building inspector and was on the zoning review board in Vermilion. While in Florida, he served on the Lee County Election Board.
Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Ethel Jane (Wilson) Bender, whom he married Aug. 18, 1951; children, Mark (Jane) Bender of Indianapolis, Ind., Joel (Lisa) Bender of Wooster, Chris (Tom) Lesnar, of Freeland, Mich., and Bruce (Peggy) Bender of Commerce Township, Mich.; grandchildren, Katie (John) Bender of Astoria, N.Y., Andrew (Sarah) Bender of Chicago, Ill., Erin (Brian) Ransom of Wooster, Megan Lesnar of Grand Rapids, Mich., Scott Lesnar and Breanne Lesnar, both of Freeland, Mich., Rachel (Jairus) Baird of Kalamazoo, Mich., Kim (Scott) Martin of Commerce Township, Mich., Trisha Bender of Louisville, Ky.; great-grandsons, Owen Ransom and Kenton Baird; and brothers, Ralph (Barb) Bender of Turtletown, Tenn., and Paul (Judy) Bender of Lebanon.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Hazel Florida, Mildred Koehler, and Jeannette Shields; and brothers, Edgar, Auguste, Richard and Jack Bender.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Roberts Funeral Home-Sherwood Chapel, Wooster, is assisting the family. Online tributes may be made at www.RobertsFuneralHome.com.
Memorial donations can be made to Zion Lutheran Church, 7401 Winkler Road, Fort Myers, Fla. 33919; or LifeCare Hospice, 2525 Back Orrville Road, Wooster 44691.
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