Frieda “Virginia” VanBendegom, age 98, of Kenosha passed from this life to her eternal life on November 17, 2023 after a long illness.

She was born September 13, 1925 in Walla Walla, WA one of 12 children of Henrich and Maria Catharina (Wamboldt) Mohrland. She attended schools in Walla Walla.

During World War II she worked for the Civil Defense and Montgomery Wards in Pendleton, Oregon. While in Pendleton, she met her future husband – Robert P. VanBendegom of Kenosha on a blind date. With his return from China following the end of World War II they were united in holy matrimony on November 4, 1945 in Pendleton. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert on April 1, 2002.

She was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church.  In addition, she served in many capacities as a Sunday School Teacher, Superintendent and Vacation Bible School Coordinator, Altar Guild and Worship Committee, numerous Bible Study Programs and provided help at Trinity for over 30 years.  She made and served soup at the Shalom Center Soup Kitchen and was recognized as an Honorary member of the Kenosha VFW Post 1865 Motorcycle Riders’ Group.

Virginia enjoyed cooking, baking, knitting, crocheting, sewing and attending to her flowers and vegetable garden. She relished traveling to the west coast for visits with family and friends. She was known to be a dedicated and resilient working woman – even into her 90’s, always striving for perfection in whatever task she undertook. But above all else, Virginia was a great Mom, she was intensely dedicated to her family and home.

Along with her husband Robert, she was preceded in death by her son, Army SSG James Lee VanBendegom; granddaughters, Jodi VanBendegom-Garavaglia and Kelly M. VanBendegom, along with five brothers and five sisters.

She is survived by her three sons, Michael (Darlene) of Fitchburg, Robert (Susan) of Kenosha, and Gary of Baraboo; five grandchildren; seven great grandchildren and her sister, Nadine Christiano of Milton Freewater, Oregon.

Service Info

Funeral services honoring Virginia’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 24, 2023 at the Piasecki Funeral Home.

Interment will follow in Sunset Ridge Memorial Park.

A visitation for Virginia will be held on Friday, November 24, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be given to Trinity Lutheran Church, https://trinitykenosha.org or 7104 39^th Avenue, Kenosha WI 53143.

7104 39^th Avenue, Kenosha WI 53143.

The family wishes to extend sincere thanks to the staff and care givers of The Manor Care and Hospice Alliance for their enduring compassion and kindness provided.  In addition to neighbors and friends who helped to sustain our mother through the years. And sincere thanks to extended members both of Trinity Lutheran Church and VFW Post 1865 for their kind-heartedness.