William James Bendrick

William "Bill" J. Bendrick William J. Bendrick, 86, Wausau, died Thursday, November 13, 2008, at the V.A. Hospital, Tomah, WI. He was born May 17, 1922, in Junction City, son of the late Joseph and Anna (Smrz) Bendrick . On July 11, 1942 he married Dorothea Brenton in Waukon, IA. She preceded him in death on December 30, 1999. Bill worked for more than 30 years at National Cash Register until his retirement. Some of his favorite pastimes included hunting, fishing, camping and spending time with his family. Bill was drafted into the Army October, 1942. Kansas-9th Armored Division, Headquarters Company, 2nd Tank Battalion, Recon Sergeant. He traveled to England via the North Atlantic on the Queen Elizabeth II in convoy. He served in Britain, August 1944, followed by France and Belgium. Surrounded for three days in the Battle of the Bulge, captured December 16th, 1944 in the Ardennes near Luxembourg, Belgium... near a place called Malmady. He endured a 10-day forced march back to Germany followed by five days confinement in boxcars with men standing so tightly if one died the body could not fall down. No food and no water. On one forced march, the column was bombed by allied planes as they happened to be next to a railway yard. On another march, a British Spitfire was suddenly spotted overhead and it dived down at the column. The word came down the column very fast "Don't Run! Don't Run!" Just as quickly, a large banner appeared from the men and was unrolled over the heads of the group. As the plane got closer the terror of being strafed mounted, but no one ran! The pilot held his fire and buzzed the column from front to back as he read POW on the banner. He circled and came back to wave his wings. The next couple of days our Spitfire friend checked on them. Initial confinement was at Stalag IIB followed by several others as the retreat took them further into Germany. He was liberated on April 28th, 1945 by advance Elite British troops called "The Welsh Guards". "Our heartfelt thanks and gratitude goes out to the families and survivors of the cherished members of our armed forces - to those who fought, were captured and those who made the greatest sacrifice of all... " Survivors include two daughters, Barbara (Thomas) Gwidt, Rib Mountain, and Rebecca (Michael) Gilleland, Fall Creek; one son Jonathan (Diane) Bendrick, Wausau; ten grandchildren, Glenn (Nancy) Peters, Lucinda (Wilbur) Gwidt, Jennifer (Larry) Vlietstra, Mary (Christopher) Duban, Paul (Tarin) Gilleland, Nathan (Samantha) Gilleland, Kennan, Elizabeth, Jonathan, and Benjamin Gilleland; Seven great-grandchildren, Mandy and Brenton Peters, Laura Gwidt, Alex and Mason Vlietstra, Roman Duban and Bryan Gilleland; one sister, Genevieve Burke, Rhinelander; and one brother George (Marge) Bendrick, Delavan. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Dorothea, and his sisters and brothers, Ann, Evelyn, Benjamin, and James. Funeral Service will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 17, 2008 at First Presbyterian Church, Wausau. Rev. Joy Nelson-Jeffers will officiate. Burial in Pine Grove Cemetery Wausau with full military honors conducted by the VFW Burns Post #388, Wausau. Friends may call Sunday from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth Street, Wausau and again on Monday at First Presbyterian Church from 10:00 a.m. until time of services. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com