Retired USAF Lt. Col. Eugene W. Bendel

Retired USAF Lt. Col. Eugene W. Bendel went home to be with his Lord on Friday, October 23, 2009, following a courageous and miraculous five-and-a-half-year fight against pancreatic cancer.

He was surrounded by Jayne, his loving wife of 48 years; children Greg Bendel and Diane Steele; and members of his church family.

Gene was born on April 16, 1932, and grew up on a dairy farm near Athens, WI. At 19 he joined the Air Force, which defined the rest of his life.

He graduated as a Second Lieutenant from the Air Force Officers Training School at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX. From there, he trav...