Arlys Joan Bender

ROCKFORD, ILL. - Arlys (Luick) Bender, age 80, died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010, at Swedish American Hospital. Arlys was born on May 21, 1929, at Stetsonville, Wis., to Martha and Fred Luick. She attended a rural one-room school for eight years. In 1942, the family moved to Madison, and she attended her freshman year at Madison West High School. Her family then moved to the east side in the Tenny Park area. She attended her sophomore, junior and senior year at Madison East High School where she graduated in 1946. At age 14 (during World War II) she worked as a clerk at Carlson's Variety Store at Union Corners, for 25 cents an hour. At this time bus fare was 5 cents. At age 16, the bookkeeping position there opened and she took it. At that time there were three Carlson Stores in Madison, and she did the accounting for all from January, 1946 to September, 1947. She decided to move on and accepted a job at Gisholt Machine Company in the Cost Department for 21 years. Arlys then started work, first at UW School of Education Dean's Office and later transferred to the UW School of Nursing in the business office as an Account Specialist II. She was in these positions for 28 years and retired in 1996. She married Robert Joseph Bender in 1949, and they had one daughter, Marilyn. Arlys loved living in Madison. She lived in her Westside home for 40 years and enjoyed tending her flowers and working in the yard. They enjoyed many years of camping and made many friends. Robert passed away in 1990. Arlys is survived by her daughter, Marilyn (Bill) Johnson of Racine; three grandchildren, Jay (Kristy) Johnson of Beloit, Renee (Dustin) Stewart of Rockford, and Angela (Jason) Coker of Kenosha; three great-grandchildren, Grace and Noah of Beloit and Lea of Kenosha; and step-great-grandchildren, Jaylen and Haylei of Kenosha. She is further survived by her brother, Frederick Luick of DeForest; sister-in-law, Mary Luick and many nieces and nephews. Arlys was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her sister, Lorraine (Luick) Larson and of special note, her cousin, Myron R. ""Mike"" Luick who died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010. Arlys and Mike worked together on the farm and he lovingly referred to her as ""George"" because she was right in there with the rest of the men tossing bails of hay. ""They did not want to go alone, so he waited for her and held the door and they walked in together."" Funeral services for Arlys will be held Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010, at 11 a.m. at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison. A visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will be at Roselawn Memorial Park. Memorials in Arlys' name may be given to Bethel Lutheran Television Ministry, 312 Wisconsin Avenue, Madison, WI 53703. Memories are priceless possessions, that time can never destroy. For it is in happy remembrance, the heart finds it greatest joy. Our lives are never measured by how many years we live. But by the kindly things we do and the happiness we give.