Obituary
Virginia (Ginny) Gates-Bendel
Virginia (Ginny) Gates-Bendel, 88, of La Crosse, passed away on Monday, July 24, 2023. She was born July 3, 1935 to Margaret Gobel Gates. She married Jene Alan Bendel on September 16, 1955 at Wesley United Methodist Church in La Crosse. Ginny’s life is best defined by a single word, Family.
Ginny and Jene were both only children and wanted a large family and in wanting that, their lives were blessed with an enormous one. Ginny loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with a deep passion. Rarely missing an opportunity to celebrate their lives she attended concerts, sporting events, awards ceremonies, birthdays, and weddings near and far. She viewed her large extended family of cousins more as her brothers and sisters; family reunions were joyous occasions for her and not to be missed.
Her Family however, was not limited to her relations. Entering Ginny’s sphere was to become a family member. She welcomed everyone into her life, often at her home, and always at her table. Driven by an unfailing energy, she had coffee at the ready along with some kind of home-baked good or taco dip, with a side of lively conversation. If you were there when it was time to make the next meal, it was expected that you were staying for it.
Ginny also lived in constant service with the hope of bringing joy and comfort to others. In doing service, she taught it and there was no service too small. She was a crossing guard for Elm Grove Elementary School in La Crosse, simply because she lived nearby and saw the children needed one. As a young mother Ginny also provided care, shelter, and guidance to many youth in the area. She worked and managed a Sandy’s, later Hardee’s, restaurant for 25 years. While there she made many life-long friends of co- workers and patrons. Ginny and her husband supported making and serving community meals at the La Crosse County Thanksgiving Dinner, enlisting friends and family to help. After retiring at 60, she began volunteering much of the time only to re-enter the workforce for another 7 years as the Nutrition Site Manager for the La Crosse County Senior Nutrition Program at Sauber Manor. She also took on coordinating their Meals- On-Wheels program, again often with the help of her husband, family, and friends.
Laughter was also an important part of Ginny’s life, a trait she shared with her late- husband of 60 years, Jene. While they loved fishing, bird watching, making lefse, and
gardening flowers together; Ginny and Jene were a gregarious couple, spending weeknights and weekends bowling or playing cards with their many friends. Ginny had a terrific memory for the escapades of her husband, children, and people around her. Small details of those fond memories jump-started conversations infused with much love and laughter. It was fun to be in her company.
Though she has passed, her energy still glows. Many will remember her for their own special reason, many more will continue to feel her presence through her sense of family.
Ginny is survived by her son, Kurt (Denise); grandchildren, Jared (Lauren); Elyse (Diane); great-grandchildren,Ava, Brodie, Gibson, and Avery; her son, Garrett (Gwen); grandchildren, Joshua (Laura), Bridgett (Michael) Dresen and Seth (Abigail Linberg); great-grandchildren, Alyson, Joseph, Liam, Caden, Zander, and Liliana; her son, Garth (Sheila); her daughter, Sara Stankiewicz; grandchildren, Nicole Sjuggerud (Nick Bowman) and Cheyenne (Jacob) Helgerson.
Ginny is preceded in death by her husband, Jene Bendel, mother, Margaret Gobel Gates and parents-in-law, Alyce Ekholm-Bendel, Joseph and Ada Bendel.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, August 09, 2023 at 5:30 pm with a visitation from 4:00 pm until the time of service at The Gathering Place, 133 Mason Street, Onalaska.
A private burial for the family and friends will be held at a later date. Memorials may be sent to Catholic Charities of La Crosse, the Ettrick Rod & Gun Club Youth Days, or a charity of one’s own choosing.
To view the service via Zoom download the Zoom app and click HERE
Coulee Region Cremation Group is assisting the family.
Such a beautiful tribute to our dear friend. The Gobels, Gates and Bendel’s friendship goes back to my grandparents. Our deepest sympathy and love to all of you.
Love, Dick & Ellie
We are forever grateful to Ginny and Jene and their loving family for all their love and caring of our Mother, Ellie, Carol and me through our lives. Blessings, love and prayers to all. Love and hugs, Mary K and Carol S.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Bendel family.
Ginny always made me feel welcome in their home. My thoughts are with the entire family.
To Sara, Garrett and the entire Bendel Family, my heartfelt sincerest condolences on the passing of your Mom, Ginny. Such a wonderful lady! You are in my thoughts & prayers! May your fond memories outweigh some of the sadness you feel and may that carry you thru one day at a time in your time of sorrow.
My condolences to Kurt, Garett, Garth , Sara and family. Back in the good old days, Ginny was my second mother, my crossing guard, my Boss at Hardy’s, and days i spent at her home will always be some of the best memories of my life.
I’ll miss Cousin Ginny’s warmth, laughter and great stories about our family so much! My father Frank (or Frankie as they called him when he was little) always considered Ginny his older sister – although they were first cousins and he had four younger siblings! He grew up going to La Crosse every summer, and Ginny, Cousin Fred Gobel and my dad – the oldest cousins – grew very close. Later, we used to visit Ginny and Jene and Kurt, Garrett, Garth and Sara every summer when my brother Kevin and I were growing up, and we had the best time swimming, fishing, laughing and eating! More recently, Ginny and I stayed in touch through occasional phone calls and frequent messages on Facebook – and through a great device Sara got her where I could email photos to the device, and Ginny would see them displayed in her home. I spoke to her a couple of months ago and told her about my plans to come to La Crosse later this month to remember Kevin’s passing 10 years ago. I was really hoping to see her one last time, but I know Ginny will be with us in spirit, and we will remember her then, along with other family members we’ve lost. Sending much love and comfort to all her loving family. There must be one heck of a party up there in Heaven with all the Bendels, Gobels, Flynns and Murphys! Love, Mary Kathleen
Love you cuz!
To Sarah and family,
My condolences on the passing of your beloved mother. Take strength in the Resurrection promise give by our Lord, Jesus Christ .
I loved my sister, my cousin Ginny. The Flynn family spent many of the WWll years in La Crosse with Ginny, Mauggie and our Grandmother Gobel. Even after we’d moved to Chicago, we spent most of our summers at 1027.
Ginny was five years older than I, but she never treated me like the brat I probably was. She let me tag along for hopscotch, swimming at the city pool or writing plays we then performed at Powell Park.
And suddenly it was 1955, the wedding of the century. For me it was magical—solemn vows at the Methodist church, a stunning bride, a handsome groom and scads of well-wishers hanging from the rafters. And so, Mr. and Mrs. Jene Bendel.
Ginny and I–and her other Flynn cousins–remained close as grown-ups. More visits to La Crosse, Bendel trips to Chicago and, for Ginny and me, lengthy telephone catch-ups on my birthday and on hers. We talked about lots of things, including the state of the world. But our focus was on our kids, our grandkids and, more recently, our great grandchildren–Ginny, of course. had more to talk about than I.
Many things were important to Ginny–service to the community, friendships, fun. But first and foremost, her family; She and Jene instilled in their four children all the right values: honesty, compassion, hard work and fair play. And their values stuck. Both Ginny and Jene were proud of the adults they’ve become, the lives they’ve made for themselves; Then the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren? Icing on the cake.
Ginny was generous of spirit She gave freely of herself to friends, to service and to family. And she was rewarded. Everybody loved Ginny, and her family showered her with attentiveness, warmth and devotion. Hers was a full life, a rich life. She leaves in her wake the right values to live by and the happiest of memories to share.
We loved you, Ginny–and we miss you.
Ginny: Simply the best.
Thank you for all you did and did and did …
Terry Flynn
What a beautiful service – It brought back so many memories of summers spent and even a few more trips when I got my own car. Thank goodness she had a friend who was a mechanic!!!! I never really knew what family was until those summers in LaCrosse. My thoughts are with all of the family! With love – Anne-Elise Garcia (Gobel)