Christine C. Bender

Christine C. Bender, age 98 of La Crosse/ Fellsmere, FL, passed away on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at her daughter’s home in Mountain Home, AR. She was born in Altura, MN on April 14, 1925, to Andrew and Kathrine (Kirch) Schlink. She graduated from Lewiston High School. On October 16, 1948, she married Joe Bender in Winona, MN. She was a member of St. James the Less Catholic Church in La Crosse and also at St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Sebastian, FL.

Christine loved to go dancing at the Concordia Ballroom and Harry J. Olson Senior Center in La Crosse. She had a love for hats and boots, never leaving her home without a hat on. She also loved antiques which took her to many flea markets and auctions. Christine enjoyed making all different kinds of wine and traveling to Florida where she lived for the winter months.

Christine is survived by her daughter, Joanne Holcomb; son, John Bender; son-in-law, Ron Hanson; grandchildren, Michelle (Scott) Torgerson, Ken (Bonnie) Holcomb, Cory (Patty) Hanson, and Kevin Holcomb; great grandchildren, Morgan (Nick), Amber (AJ), Mason, Avery, Rayna, Lexi, Ashley, and Aliyah; and great great grandchildren, Alex, Abby, Clara, and Grayson.

Christine was preceded in death by her husband, Joe; daughter, Pat Hanson; sons-in-law, Ken Holcomb and Earl Kinney; six sisters, Clara (Stanley) Andring, Marie Mueller, Hyacintha (Elmer) Walters, Mildred (Melvin) Golisch, Susan (Danny) Richie, and Theresa (Gerry) Kronebusch; sister-in-law, Rosemary (Bernie) Kroner; and brother-in-law, Donald (Marlene) Bender.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at St. James Catholic Church, 1032 Caledonia St, La Crosse, WI 54603. Visitation will be held one hour prior to mass at the church. Fr. Robert Letona will officiate. Burial will be held at Oak Grove Cemetery in La Crosse.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and can be made to Hospice of the Ozarks, 811 Burnett Dr., Mountain Home, AR 72653.