In Memory Of

Juanita Marie Bender

Sep 2, 1973 - Jan 22, 2026

Service

Monday, February 2, 2026
1:30 pm
CrossRoads Church, Red Deer, Alberta

Obituary

Juanita Marie Bender September 2, 1973 - January 22, 2026. Juanita went to her eternal home to see Jesus face to face with her family by her side.

Born in Listowel, Ontario, the fifth of seven siblings to Jack and Joanne Koetsier, she grew up working side-by-side with her family on a poultry farm, attending Calvin Christian School and Woodland Christian High School. Her childhood was rooted in faith and she enjoyed baking and cooking, playing the piano, and participating in many sports activities. These interests would later influence her children and livelihood.

Juanita attended Dordt College in Iowa where she met Hendrik Wildeboer. Upon completing her degree, she moved from Ontario to Alberta to marry Hendrik in 1997. They started building a poultry farm near Lacombe during which time Hendrik was tragically killed from a car accident after a year and eight months of marriage in December of 1998. It was at this time she learned she was pregnant with their first child. She struggled through the grief to finish and operate the farm by herself. In July 1999, her son Joel was born and the following spring she was introduced to Mike Bender. On January 6, 2001 Juanita and Mike were married, continued to operate the farm and were blessed with 5 more children. In 2008, they sold the poultry operation and moved to the Bentley area to pursue grain farming.

Juanita touched many lives through her service to people and organizations including Bentley Minor Soccer, Rimbey Falcons pond hockey, Blindman Valley 4-H club, various school committees and many others. She was always involved in serving in her church with leading music, children’s ministry, and participating in many church events. Juanita served because she loved people and wanted the best for them. She was often the first to make a meal for someone in need in her community and took joy in making food for others. Juanita was passionate about farming with her family and played a very active role in all aspects of the family farm. She loved her sheep, cows, dogs and chickens and was known as the “bale lady” in both making the straw bales and marketing them to those in the area. She was very instrumental in starting the West Country Mills business and loved farmer’s markets, being able to interact with customers and create relationships with them. She was an expert homemaker and excelled in hospitality, baking bread and caring for her family.

Juanita’s first love was always her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and desired for others to know Him as well. She lived her life with an eternal focus and it showed in how she continued to serve people in the community. Her continuous seeking of God was evident in all aspects of her life and especially with her well worn, tear stained bible.

Juanita is predeceased by her first husband, Hendrik Wildeboer.

She is survived by her loving husband, Mike Bender and children, Joel (Megan), Mikaela, Matthew, Bethany, John, and Leah Bender; grandchildren Bowen and Jackson Bender. Lovingly remembered by her parents, Jack and Joanne Koetsier, siblings, Jack (Liz) Koetsier, Jeannette (Paul) Poole, James (Nancy) Koetsier, Maurice Koetsier, Mike (Shanna) Koetsier, Jeremy (Rachel) Koetsier, In-laws, Lloyd and Susan Bender, Kevin (Sara) Bender, Jennifer (Dwayne) Johnson, Jeff (Pam) Bender, and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Juanita at CrossRoads Church, Red Deer on February 2, at 1:30 pm. For those who wish, donations can be made to the Lighthouse Christian Academy school building fund.

Etransfers can be made to lightca@telusplanet.net on behalf of Juanita Bender memorial.

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