Wilbur H Bender 90, Port Byron, died Sunday, January 22, 2012 at Genesis Medical Center-Illini Campus, Silvis. Funeral services are 10 AM Thursday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Rapids City, IL. Burial is in Rock Island National Cemetery, where the East Moline American Legion Post 227 will conduct Military Honors. Visitation is 4-7 PM Wednesday at Van Hoe Funeral Home Ltd., East Moline. Memorials may be made to St. John's Church, where he was a member. Wilbur was born September 11, 1921 in Sheffield, IL, the son of Melvin and Yvonne (Touderat) Bender. He was in the first graduating class of the "new" Rock Island High School. He married Madeline Poelvoorde on September 22, 1941 in Kahoka, MO. She died November 18, 2007. Wilbur retired as Night Superintendent of Quality Control from John Deere Plow Planter, Moline. He was a member of the Belgian American Brotherhood and was Knighted by the Center for Belgian Culture. Wilbur served in the US Army during WWII and the Korean Conflict achieving the rank of Major. He enjoyed playing rolle bolle. In early years he boxed Golden Gloves locally and was light welterweight champion. Survivors include his children (spouses) Michael (Suzanne) Bender, East Moline, Kathleen (Craig) Coldiron, Chesterfield, MO, and Laura (Robert) Foust, Rock Island, grandchildren, Dawn Richlen, Gregory Bender, Paul Bender, Penny Lafferiere, Matthew Clark, Megan Clark, Emily Foust and Erin Foust, seven great-grandchildren and a great-great-granddaughter. He is preceded in death by his wife Madeline, sisters, Marjorie Lerschen and Maxine Briggs and brother Harvey Bender.

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