Martha R. Bender, age 96, of Marshfield, WI, joined her heavenly Father on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at House of the Dove, Marshfield. Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at Christ Lutheran Church where a visitation will be from 10:00 am until service time. Rev. Andrew Belt will officiate. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Marshfield. Rembs Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Martha Kahler Bender was born on December 22, 1928, to Paul and Katherine (Schamber) Kahler on the family farm south of Colome, South Dakota. One of twelve children, she attended school with her siblings at the Progressive Schoolhouse in Colome. Martha was confirmed in August 1942 at Saint Paul Lutheran Church, south of Colome, and on January 16, 1947, she married the love of her life, Leon H. Bender, at the very same church. Martha and Leon farmed with their family in Colome until 1954 when they moved to Marshfield, WI.
Throughout her life, Martha worked as a homemaker and salesclerk. She enjoyed gardening, bird watching, cooking, sewing, reading, camping, and fishing. A lifelong member of Christ Lutheran Church in Marshfield, she actively participated in Bible study and volunteered her time with the Ladies’ Aide. Martha was always willing to help others in need, frequently opening her home to many individuals during her lifetime and enjoyed offering fellowship with her Sunday dinners. She cherished spending time with Jesus in prayer and reading her Bible, and most of all, she loved doting on and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Martha is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Leon; her sons, Donald, and Jerry; her parents, Paul and Katherine Kahler; and her siblings, Fred, Rudy, John, Leonard, Flora Kahler, Rose Kutabue, Lucille Fenner, Dorothy Snyder, Adeline Bender, and Erna Kinzer.
She is survived by her sons, Larry (Susie) Bender and Garry (Cindy) Bender; her daughter, Marilyn Bender, all of Marshfield; and her seven grandchildren, David (Jody) Bender of Stratford, WI, Tina Bender, Jenny Bender, Dan Bender, Kelly (Casey) Hintz, Ashley (James) Fostmeier of Marshfield, and Ben (Ashley) Guldan of Minneapolis, MN. She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren, and her sister, Mabel Lehmann of Appleton, WI.
Martha was loved and cherished by many friends and family and will be greatly missed.
Author: News Desk
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