Robert P. Bender, 89, of 1400 River Run Drive, died peacefully in his sleep, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007, at his home. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Lawrence Catholic Church. The Rev. George Nelson Graham will officiate. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery with VFW Post No. 2534 conducting military rites. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at St. Lawrence Church and from 10 a.m. until time of service Saturday. A parish prayer service along with the Knights of Columbus will be at 7 p.m. Friday at the church. Robert was born June 26, 1918, in Wisconsin Rapids, to Matthew and Rose Bender. He married Dolores M. Rayome on June 27, 1945, in Port Edwards. He attended SS. Peter and Paul School and graduated from Lincoln High School. Bob was a champion Golden Glove boxer competing in bouts across the state and in Chicago. Bob served in the U.S. Air Force in World War II from 1942 to 1945, working as a photographer-gunner in the North African-Tunisian Theater. His pictures of bombing ruins over the arid deserts as well as the ruins of Rome captured this country's fight for freedom and solidified his place as a member of the "greatest generation." His fascination with cameras and photography continued throughout his life and he passed that attraction onto his children. A month after his honorable discharge he married his sweetheart, Dolores, who had waited patiently and hopefully for the war to end and for his safe return. Her letters gave him hope for a bright and promising future together. They moved to Madison and with the help of the GI Bill, were both able to enroll at the University of Wisconsin. Working the night shift at the Oscar Mayer plant and attending school by day, they were able to support themselves by living with wealthy Madison families and serving as their maid and butler. After graduation, Bob enrolled at the UW Law School earning his Juris Doctor degree in 1950. In 1951, they moved back to Wisconsin Rapids, where they settled on the west side and raised their six children. Bob began his general law practice as a sole practitioner supplementing his income as Justice of the Peace. In 1962, he purchased an old shoe store on the corner of Oak Street and Second Street North, remodeled it and practiced law there for the next 30 years. He served as the Wisconsin Rapids City Attorney from 1959 to 1968. He was appointed Wood County Family Court Commissioner in 1978 and married many couples and counseled many in turmoil during his 17 years tenure at that position. He specialized in real estate and bankruptcy law and was one of the few attorneys who also worked as a title abstractor. In 1980, his son, Richard, joined him in the practice of law and they formed the law firm of Bender & Bender. In 2000, he was honored by the State Bar of Wisconsin and Wood County Bar Association as a 50-year member. In recent years, he served as "of counsel" position with the firm he founded. He was assisted throughout his career by his beloved wife, Dolores, who worked tirelessly to manage a household of eight. In their later years, they were able to travel the country and the world from Europe to China to Australia and experience those cultures and people. He was compassionate to those less fortunate and given his humble beginnings was supportive of Democratic causes. He instilled in his children not only thrift but a quest for knowledge and service to society. Bob was a member of the Knights of Columbus achieving fourth-degree status. He enjoyed the opportunities to visit his own children in various parts of the country and welcome new grandchildren under the family tree. He was especially interested in real trees and spent many hours planting pine samplings, black walnuts, or horse chestnut pods he would find on his trips throughout the county and state. He owned parcels in Seneca, Cary and Grand Rapids that he would cultivate with those trees knowing full well that he would be lucky to see them grow to maturity but wanting them to be seen and appreciated by future generations. Bob is survived by his wife, Dolores; six children, John (Susan) Bender of Annandale, Va., Patricia (Gary) Davidson of Germantown, Thomas (Mary Jane) Bender of Wellington, Fla., Richard (Linda) Bender of Wisconsin Rapids, Daniel (Dorothy) Bender of St. Cloud, Minn., and Barbara Bender of Colorado Springs, Colo.; 17 grandchildren, Christopher, Julie, Erik, Kevin, Amy, Tricia, Robert, Molly, Timothy, Stephen, Emily, Allison, Elliott, Andrew, Anna, Matthew and Marissa; and three great-grandchildren, Addison, Ethan and Hannah. He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Mary Kay at birth; and siblings, Edward Bender, Proxeda Oberhuber, Marion Sowatzke, Dorothy Remsik and Felix Bender. Higgins Funeral Home assisted the family. |
