Martin (Bud) J. Bender

Martin J. (Bud) Bender, age 84 years, passed away Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at Living Joy in Flushing, Michigan. 

He was born on February 1st, 1939 in Vassar the son of the late Ernest L. and Adelia (Engelhart) Bender.  In February of 1958 he married Janet Grace Mallory (Peterhans) and raised four children then divorced in 1982. In December of 1985, Martin married Sherrian K. Kukulski. Martin spent most of his working years as an electrician with Saginaw Steering Geer. He was a member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church.  Martin enjoyed spending time at his brother’s cabin hunting with friends and family. He also loved to take his wife Sherrian to Bingo and perch fishing.

Surviving family include his 1st wife, Janet Peterhans, and wife Sherrian, his children, Mary (Bruce) Hemingway, Kevin Bender, Julie Bender, and Mark (Tina) Bender, grandchildren Melanie (Andrew) Espinoza, Rory (Katherine) Bender, Cameron Bender, Ryhs Bender and great grandchildren, stepchildren Todd (Heidi) Kukulski and Lori Kukulski-Bamberger, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. 

Martin was preceded in death by his brothers, Ernest, Bob, Ken and Gordon Bender and sisters, Lulu Betty Bender, Lois Wedge, Marilyn Graubner, Celia Olmstead, Carol Kralik-Baker and grandson Gregg Stephen Geesey.

A memorial service will be at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 23, 2023, at the Hanlin Funeral Home in Vassar, MI (1148 W. Saginaw Rd. Vassar, MI 48768). The family will greet family and friends at 2:00 p.m. until the time of the service.

Those desiring may make contributions to St. Jude’s Children Hospital.

Share a memory with Martin’s family in the guestbook below.

HANLIN FUNERAL HOMES

Millington & Vassar

Serving Since 1928