Leonard W. “Lenny” Bender, 91, of Sunrise of Naperville North Assisted Living, in Naperville, IL, formerly of Morrison, IL, died Monday, November 9, 2020, at Edward Hospital in Naperville.
Lenny was born December 18, 1928, in Polo, IL, to William J. and Ethel M. (Bellows) Bender. He was educated in the Polo grade schools and was a 1947 graduate of Polo High School. Lenny married Helen M. Robinson on May 7, 1949, in Polo. She died September 25, 1985. He then married LaVonne E. “Connie” (Conrady) Wright on July 25, 1987, in Morrison. Lenny was employed by International Harvester in Rock Falls, IL, from 1948 to 1961 and International Harvester in East Moline, IL, from 1961 until retiring in 1981. He was a former member of First Christian Church in Polo, First United Methodist Church in East Moline, Morrison United Methodist Church in Morrison, and was currently a member of Bethesda Lutheran Church in Morrison. He was an active volunteer with Morrison Friends Food Pantry and served as coordinator for Thrivent Financial Services. Lenny enjoyed fishing, hunting, bowling, and golfing.
Survivors include his wife, Connie; daughter, Leanne (Steve) Earhart of Hampton, IL; son, Randy (Retha) Bender of Moline; step-daughters, Linda Johnson of Rockford, IL, Lana (Gary) Cook of Decatur, IL, and Lori Belha of Warrenville, IL; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; brother Sidney (Shirley) Bender of Baraboo, WI.
He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Helen; a sister in infancy; brother, Kenneth Bender.
There will no Visitation or funeral Service.
A graveside Service will be held at later date at Oak Knoll Memorial Park Cemetery in Sterling, IL.
A memorial has been established to Bethesda Lutheran Church in Morrison, IL,