Deon Bender

A celebration of life for Deon Bender, 69 of Parnell will be held Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 2:30PM at the West Union Mennonite Church in rural Parnell. Burial will follow at the Bethel Cemetery in rural Parnell. Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 23 from 2-8PM at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Mennonite Disaster Service, West Union Mennonite Church or Iowa City Hospice. Deon Bender died Monday, May 21 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a brief illness.

Gerald Deon Bender was born June 30, 1942 in Iowa City, Iowa the son of Gerald and Nellie (Hall) Bender. He attended Woodland rural school and graduated from Kalona High School in 1960. On April 6, 1968 he was united in marriage to Kathy Wagner in Oxford, Iowa. The couple lived and farmed in the Parnell area all of Deon's life. He was a member of the Johnson County Cattlemen and was a Washington Township Trustee. Deon enjoyed watching stock car races, farming and bailing hay.

Survivors include his wife Kathy of Parnell, one brother, Gene Bender of Wellman, one sister, Rosalie Luedtke of Iowa City, sister in law, Bonnie Bender of Iowa City, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Preceding Deon in death were his parents, one brother, Ron "RB" Bender, a sister in law, Phyllis "Goody" Bender, a nephew, Bryan Bender and a cousin, Bob Bender.