Delmar I Bender

Delmar I Bender
November 12, 1918 - October 03, 2011
Kalona, Iowa
Visitation: 3-5 and 7-8:30 p.m. October 05, 2011 at West Union Mennonite Church, rural Parnell
Funeral Service: 10:00 a.m. October 06, 2011 at West Union Mennonite Church, rural Parnell
Interment: October 06, 2011 at West Union Cemetery
Delmar I Bender, 92, died Monday, October 3, 2011 at the Pleasantview Home in Kalona. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 6, 2011 at the West Union Mennonite Church in rural Parnell, Iowa. Pastor Corey Miller and Pastor Martha Yoder will officiate. Burial will be in the West Union Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3-5 and 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday at West Union Mennonite Church. The Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona is in charge of the arrangements. Delmar was born November 12, 1918, in Iowa County, to Irving and Ethel (Yoder) Bender. He grew up on a farm near Parnell and graduated from Parnell High School as class salutatorian. On August 20, 1940 he married Goldie J. Miller of Parnell, Iowa, a blessed union that was shared for 64 years. He farmed successfully in Johnson County, Iowa with his brother-in-law and lifelong best friend, Marvin Miller, and with nephews George and Frank Miller. Delmar was devoted to his wife and family and always made them his priority. He was very active in his church, West Union Mennonite, where he was an elder, a trustee, church secretary, and taught many Sunday School classes. He also held various positions in the community including being a board member of Pleasantview Nursing Home and board president of Iowa Mennonite School. He enjoyed farming, traveling, nature, music, and family. He was well known and loved in the community and church as a man of integrity and gentleness and as a man of God. He had a beautiful tenor voice and participated in many musical events. Delmar was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Goldie, his parents, a brother, Wallace Bender, and a sister, Wilma Gingerich. He is survived by his five children: John (Cathy) Bender of Boulder, CO, Alice Golden of Iowa City, Virginia/Ginny (Ken) Rew of Iowa City, Les (Kathy) Bender of Kasilof, AK, and Laurie Bender of Chicago, IL. Surviving grandchildren include Kirstin, Susanna and Peter Golden; Molly and Brad Rew; and Dakoda Bender. Surviving great grandchildren include Zoe Rogers, Ethan Maltes, and Jesus and Rosalia Escalera Rew.
A memorial fund has been established for West Union Mennonite Church and Pleasantview Home.