Vera Hazel Marie Bender

Age 93, of Rice Lake, WI, died Tuesday, October 24, 2023 in Rice Lake.

She was born on April 12, 1930 in Sextonville, WI to Ludwig and Elsie (Dieter) Zimmerman.  Vera attended school at Baraboo High School in Baraboo, WI.  She was married to Eugene Bender in July 1948 and they later divorced after 62 years of marriage.  The family moved north and settled in the Barron area for many years.  Vera was a manager and worked in the billing parts department in the family business for Gene's Repair for many years.  

She was an avid Red Wing Pottery Collector, passionate about playing cards, loved watching NASCAR and the Green Bay Packers, fishing, gardening and her beautiful flower gardens.  

She is survived by her 6 children, Diane (Larry) Eriksen, Christie Miller, Brenda (Brad) Huron, David (Susan) Bender, Alan (Becki) Bender and Neil (Norma) Bender; 11 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; 6 great great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Stanley Miller; 2 great grandchildren, Jade and Lucas Miller; her parents, Ludwig and Elsie Zimmerman; her ExHusband, Eugene Bender; 5 sisters, Violet (Verlyn), Vada (Orville), Verona (Eugene), Vanessa (Ronald) and Victoria (Donald); and 5 brothers, Lorenz (Marie), Willard (Violet), Roger (Joann), Leo (Marge) and Arlo (Barb).

Funeral Services will be held at Noon, Saturday, November 11, 2023 at Appleyard's Home for Funerals in Rice Lake, Rev. John Erickson officiating, with interment in Cedar Lake Cemetery in Rice Lake.  Visitation will be held from 10AM-Noon at Appleyard's Home for Funerals in Rice Lake.