Joseph Martin Bender
Joseph Martin Bender
Joseph Martin Bender of Lakewood, NY left this world on January 13, 2025 after courageously battling cancer for the past several years. Joe was born on August 20, 1944 in White Plains, NY. Three years later, his father relocated the family to Jamestown, NY for work at Steel Partition and to play for their vaulted amateur baseball team.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Arthur and Mary Blanche Bender.
He is survived by two brothers, Dr. Charles (Nancy) Bender of Ridgway, PA and James (Barbara) Bender of Ashburnham, MA. In addition, he is survived by nephews Stephen (Kylie) Bender, Kevin (Kristin) Bender and Timothy Bender, and great nieces and nephew Hayesly, Quinn, Lucas and Hannah. He leaves behind numerous cousins from the New York and Pennsylvania areas including those from the Bender, Nagle and Hertzog families. He is also survived by his former wife, Connie Forestiere.
Joe graduated from Jamestown High School in 1963. He subsequently graduated from Jamestown Community College and Syracuse University. At Syracuse he received a BS degree in Forestry and a master’s degree in environmental resource management. He also served in the Army National Guard from 1963 to 1969.
He worked as a real estate appraiser for over 30 years and owned the Southern Tier Appraisal Company in Jamestown. In the latter years of his career, he worked in the forestry consulting business. Joe was an active member of the Mount Moriah Masonic Lodge of Jamestown.
Joe was an outdoorsman and loved hunting, traveling and skiing with relatives and friends. Family and friends were the core of his life. He was generous with his time and resources, and you could always count on him to be there in a time of need.
As a result, in his time of need during these last several years, family and friends rallied beside him to cook meals, provide transportation, do laundry and a myriad of other personal services. His family will be forever grateful for their love, selflessness, and dedication to Joe.
His family would also like to thank Joe’s medical team that worked tirelessly to assist him in navigating these difficult years of cancer treatment, including his many doctors, nurses and their staff. Included in this long list are the staff at UPMC Hamot in Erie, PA, UPMC Chautauqua and Heritage Park Rehab & Skilled Nursing in Jamestown. In addition, we would like to especially thank the staff at the Star Hospice House in Lakewood, NY for their amazing care of Joe during the last months of his life.
Joe’s Memorial Service will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 in the Lind Funeral Home, led by the Rev. Daniel K. Nagle. Friends will be received from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, and for one hour prior to the service in the funeral home Saturday. Additionally, a Masonic Lodge Funeral Service will be held at 6:45 p.m. Friday evening at Lind’s.
To leave a condolence, please visit lindfuneral home.com