Kenneth Bender

Kenneth L. Bender retired to a new world of eternal rest on Thursday September 18, 2008 at Theda Clark Medical Center. He was born August 6, 1931 on a farm in the town of Pine Grove in Portage County west of Bancroft, Wisconsin, the son of Lloyd and Hazel [Dudley] Bender.Kens family moved to Oshkosh on November 30, 1941 from a farm near Plainfield. He enjoyed the friendship of so many people of Oshkosh and was blessed to have worked with so many fine people. On February 9, 1952 he married Barbara J. Mager at the Tenth Street United Methodist Church. Ken was employed at Kimberly Clark Corp. in Neenah for thirty-eight years until his retirement. He had been a member of the National Guard, Service Co. and the U.S. Army Signal Corp with service in Korea. Ken was a member of American Legion Cook-Fuller Post #70. He was proud of what he accomplished in the service with so little to work with.He was never one to avoid a challenge and was always proud of the end results. He was a former Harley rider and has always enjoyed working on anything mechanical, including autos, motorcycles, and old engines. This was his occupation in the military, rebuilding gasoline powered generators. Much of this he owed to many High School teachers with their patience and the former Harley-Davidson dealer of Oshkosh. Ken always felt blessed to have enjoyed so many things that many people only dream about. There was not much he did not do. Coming from a farm and traveling the world making friends was beyond belief.Survivors are a daughter, Janis Rost-White and her husband Tom White of Oshkosh; sons, Thomas (Rebecca) Bender of North Carolina, and Steven (Sandra) Bender of Wautoma, WI. There are seven grandsons, Alex (Jennifer) Rost, Andrew and Michael Rost of Oshkosh; Erik (Jennifer) Bender and Matthew Bender of Bennett, NC, Gregory and Robbie Bender of Oshkosh, and three great grandchildren, Lynn Rost, Oshkosh; Justin and Allison Bender, Bennett, NC. He is also survived by a sister, Deloris (Jerome) Grunwald and by a brother, Norman (Donna) Bender all of Oshkosh; and by many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of fifty-six years; his parents; a brother La Vern of Racine, WI; and a grandson, Thomas Bender II of North Carolina.Funeral services will be held at the Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home-Westside on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 4:00 PM. with Rev. Jean Schmidt officiating, followed by military honors. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Monday from Noon until the time of the service. Entombment will be in Lake View Memorial Park Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established.Our HeroA Hero in our memory will you always beFor you were the strength in our family.A proud man to others, full of wisdom and hopeTo love in your heart is what enabled you to copeAlways giving of yourself to others in need.Your honesty and devotion is what helped you succeed.A son, a husband, a father, grandfather and friend,A brother always loved by those till the end.Memories of your life must carry us through For such a special man we found in youWith our hearts full of sorrow and tears in our eyesThe moment has come, we must say goodbye.In Gods arm you may rest now, your journey completeFor you will be missed till we again meet.Janis L. Rost-White 2008

Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home - Westside



100 Lake Pointe Drive
Oshkosh
WI
54904

Monday, September 22, 2008
noon-service



Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home - Westside



100 Lake Pointe Drive
Oshkosh
WI
54904

Monday, September 22, 2008
4:00 PM



Lake View Memorial Park



2786 Algoma Blvd
Oshkosh
WI
54901