Joanne Bender

Joanne P. (Midland) Bender, age 69, of Spicer, died Saturday afternoon, January 16, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar surrounded by her family.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 22 at 3 PM at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in Spicer, MN.   Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 21 from 5 to 7 PM at Peterson Brothers Green Lake Funeral Home in Spicer and at the church one hour prior to the service. (www.petersonbrothers.com)
Joanne Petra Bender was born in Chicago, IL on August 13, 1946, the daughter of Carl John and Alice Marie (Weldon) Midland.   She attended St. Margaret Mary School and St. Scholastica High School.   She continued her education at Marycrest College in Davenport, IA and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from University of Iowa.   On April 19, 1969 she married Robert Alfred Bender of Keswick, IA.   Joanne and Bob lived in Bettendorf, IA for many years.  Joanne was a member of Scott County Extension Council and was an associate teacher at Grant Wood Elementary School.   Joanne was a loving, dedicated wife and mother of four children.   She was passionate about education, an avid gardener and loved playing in the water with her grandchildren.  Joanne was generous, creative and giving in all that she did. Her family will miss her special traditions, style, warmth, and love of play.  She is now at peace.
She is survived by her husband, Robert of Spicer, her four children; Paul (Laura) Bender of Bettendorf, Iowa, Alicia (Brian) Smestad of St. Paul, Sarah (Jason) Elk of Clarendon Hills, Illinois and Teressa (Thomas) Effertz of Anoka. Also surviving are ten grandchildren, one brother Carl John Midland of Stevensville Montana and one sister Marcia Marie Hayes of Mount Prospect, Illinois.
Joanne was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Richard Midland and two nephews, Carl John Midland and Colin Robert Hayes.

Cemetery Details