Deceased Classmates & Guests

Andrew Bodenbender

Andrew Bodenbender

Information received from Melissa Bodenbender, Andy's daughter:

April 11 near Ladner, British Columbia
It is with the biggest sadness that I had to say goodbye to my dad Andrew Bodenbender today. He was the most amazing dad who devoted his life to his 4 children. My dad and I had a very special bond and he will be greatly missed!
Dad's celebration of life will be held at Our Saviors Lutheran Church 6340 No. 4 Road, Richmond BC at 11am on Tuesday April 16, 2013.
There will be a following service in Moline, Illinois, where he will be laid to rest.  Details to follow.
Also again I am hosting a 5 k to fight cancer in honor of my dad and all proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society. Please join me and honor my dad or a loved one you know who also has been affected by cancer. Race takes place on May 4, 2013 at 9am [in Newport, RI]. http://www.slimpossibleri.com/#!slim-possible-5k/celi

Obituary from Daily Dispatch (Moline)

Andrew John Bodenbender, 68, died on Thursday, April 11, 2013, at Richmond General Hospital in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
A memorial service was held at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Richmond, British Columbia at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 16. A service in the chapel of Andrew's hometown church, Trinity Lutheran Church in Moline, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 20. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will follow at Moline Memorial Park. Arrangements are being handled by Wendt Funeral Home, Moline.
Andrew was born July 25, 1944, in Moline, the son of Henry and Katherine Zschocke Bodenbender. Andrew attended Moline schools: Hamilton Elementary, John Deere Junior High School and Moline Senior High School. Following graduation from Moline Senior High School in 1962, Andy attended Black Hawk College in Moline. He continued his education at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill., where in June 1968, he graduated from the Business College with a Bachelor of Science degree. While at Southern Illinois University, Andy joined Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, Zeta Nu Chapter and served as president from 1966 to 1967.
On Dec. 18, 1976, Andrew married Beverly Moore in Richmond, British Columbia.
Although Andy prepared for an alternate future during his undergraduate education, all he ever really wanted to do was fly airplanes. Andy served on active duty for six years as a naval aviator and flight instructor. His duty stations included Pensacola, Fla., and Naval Air Stations, Corpus Christi, Texas, and Alameda, Calif. He was discharged from active duty in 1973, as a Navy lieutenant USNR.
Following active duty naval service, Andy had an extensive history in commercial aviation. From 1973 until his retirement, Andy was a pilot for Harrison Air; Pacific Western Airlines; America West Airlines; Canadian International Airlines; and Air Canada. Andy retired in 2004 as first officer.
Andy had unique mechanical talents. His achievements included automobile engine replacements and the complete restoration of the Honda classic motorcycle his parents gave him during his student days at Southern Illinois University.
Andy devoted his life to his children, Julianna Kari, Melissa Liane, Philip Arthur and Steven Andrew. In his retirement years, his travels included visits to them and their families and several trips to visit his mother in Moline. Andy's travels included California's Death Valley; Colorado, the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert; Rhode Island; and Boston.
Andrew was a member of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Richmond and Lions Club International. Andy's Lions Club membership aligned with his belief in service to others. He attended meetings regularly with his friend, Randy Shirk.
Andrew's life was enriched and supported because of the loving care of the following individuals: pastors, Tim LeDrew and Ken Harris; doctors, Peter Quelch, John Yun, Y.D. You, Jeffrey Cao and Alexandros Alexiadis; faithful friends, Donna Elvis, Bunny Logan-May and Randy Shirk; and devoted and loving caregiver, Teresa Caincay.
Andrew is survived by his children, Julianna Kari (Matthew) Bassman, Westminster, Colo., Melissa Liane Bodenbender, Newport, R.I., Philip Arthur, Delta, British Columbia, and Steven Andrew, New Westminster, British Columbia; grandchildren, Henry Reinhardt and Bradyn Shelbe Bassman, Westminster, and Grace Leanna Bodenbender, New Westminster, British Columbia; mother, Katherine Bodenbender, Moline; brothers, Reinhardt, Vienna, Va., and Arthur (Louann), Moline; and sister, Katherine Dorothea, Moline; maternal aunt, Anna Prior, Colbe, Germany; niece, Maria (Christopher); nephews, Kurt, Karl (Catherine) and Andrew (Lalanya); great-nieces, Mathilde, Isolde, Karolina and Rosemary; and great-nephews, Peter and Josef; and many cousins in Germany and Switzerland.
Andy was preceded in death by his father, Henry Bodenbender; sister-in-law, Marilyn; niece, Christine; great-niece, Lilie; and great-nephew, Viktor.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Andrew J. Bodenbender to Richmond Hospital Foundation. Donations will be used to purchase Sleeper Chairs for family members who wish to stay overnight with their loved one in the hospital. Donations may be made online (richmondhospitalfoundation.com) or by mail to Richmond Hospital Foundation, 7000 Westminster Highway, Richmond BC V6X 1A2.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at wendtfuneralhome.com.
[End of Obit]

Andy attended the 50th Reunion of MHS Class of 1962 in October 2012.



 
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04/18/13 04:17 PM #1    

Mary E Wallaert (Wall)

I am so saddened to read of Andy's passing.  He was such a great, fun guy!  Lots of fun memories from our home room class at John Deere.  Can still see him playing the trombone in band.  Rest in peace, Andy.  Mary E Wallaert Wall


04/18/13 08:20 PM #2    

Lana R Jacobs

 

I am deeply sadened by the passing of Andy! I had hoped his health would improve after seeing him @ our reunion in Sept. '12. I was so glad to see him and spend some time visiting. What a neat guy Andy was. And thanks to Donna Evoy for being such a good friend to our Andy. I will forever remember him as the kind and classy gentleman he always was. Very respectful and friendly to everyone. May his spirit continue to live on through his children and grandchildren. And that great smile..........through the years, he always kept that great smile!


04/21/13 04:54 PM #3    

Woodie Acord

My parents bought a brand new house in 1947 on 7th. Street in Moline just a few doors north of Katy's Grocery. Andy Bodenbender and I were 3 years old at the time. I have known Andy and his family literally all of my life. He was probably the first person my age that I met when we moved into the neighborhood. He and his family were always very gracious and helpful to us, even though at the time they hardly knew us. Andy and I played with all of the other kids in the neighborhood, including Sandy Glendon, Tom Ewing, Ronnie Olson Jack Hufford, Bobby Hafner, and Jerry Verstraete. We all had great times together, and went on to William Carr and Hamilton grade schools, John Deere junior high, and Moline high school. Later on in life Andy had huge responsibilities for human life and property as a commercial airline pilot. We can all be thankful that solid folks like Andy became involved in that profession. He will be missed greatly, but remembered fondly, by his loving family and many friends. 

 

With sincerest sympathies to the family,

Woodie Acord  


04/22/13 09:38 AM #4    

Eric J Gustavson

I was so glad to see Andy again at our 50th Class Reunion. It brought back memories of so many happy times with Andy in the neighborhood. He was one of the first guys I became friends with when our family moved to Moline from Chicago. A fun, exuberant guy! I add my sympathies to those of our other classmates...

Eric Gustavson


08/21/13 08:30 PM #5    

Stuart V Mott

I was so glad to see Andy again at our 50th Class Reunion. It brought back memories of so many happy times with  him He will be missed but he made his dream to fly, and that alone is a great achievement rest in peace my freind

 

 

 


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