Dennis Paul Bender

Dennis Paul Bender was born in Ellsworth, Kansas, on July 15, 1943 to Henry Paul Bender and Ethel Leona Homewood Bender of Luray, Kansas. Dennis grew up in a small town in central Kansas, as Luray had a population of 450. Growing up in a small town allows many youngsters to participate in sports. Dennis played baseball for many years both in Luray and Russell, and also football and basketball. Baseball was his favorite sport, where his positions were pitcher and shortstop. In football, he played quarterback. Dennis was on the football team at Kansas University as a kicker where Gale Sayers also played on the team, and was his roommate for a time period.

Dennis met Cecile Ann Owen "Ann" at Kansas University. The story goes that he saw her in the library at KU and when she got up from the table where she was studying he left a note for her. What that note said is unknown exactly, but it worked! They were married on September 4,1965 in Lawrence, Kansas. After Dennis got his master's degree in education, he and Ann moved to Arvada, Colorado where he worked for the Jefferson County Public School District for many years including Edgewater Elementary, Manning Middle School, Wheat Ridge High School and finally Mandalay Junior High. Initially he was a physical education teacher but completed additional coursework in order to become a school counselor which he did for the majority of his career. While at Manning Middle School, he was one of the track coaches. He also spent some of his time being in charge of the large project of administering school wide PSAT/SAT testing. Dennis could be a bit of a jokester with colleagues and students and would often draw little cartoon vignettes for those he was close to.

Outside of his career he spent much time with his only grandchildren, a grandson and a granddaughter. Additionally, he had a passion for music and enjoyed playing the guitar and harmonica. On occasion he would write a song or two. He took pride in taking care of his lawn and was extremely meticulous with the cars he and Annie drove. His meticulous attention to detailing vehicles extended to providing the same care to his daughter's car and sometimes even that of her good friends. He also was passionate about physical fitness, often exercising at home or at the local recreation center.

Later in life, after he was widowed, he spent time with his daughter and grandchildren doing some traveling overseas to France,and Germany, as well as a cruise to the Caribbean and the Panama Canal. He also enjoyed a few domestic trips to Hawaii, Wisconsin, Mesa Verde, Ouray, and the Great Sand Dunes.

Dennis is survived by his only sibling, his sister Neva Allison (Ron) who resides in Palm Desert, California; his daughter Amy Nelson (Brad) of Thornton, Colorado; and his two grandchildren Wesley Nelson and Whitney Nelson.

To know Dennis or "DB" as some called him, was to love him. The depth of his care, kindness, and compassion made the world a better place. He will be profoundly missed.