Marie Wilkins

Marie Antoinette Mangels Bender Hansen Wilkins was born June 15, 1915 in Adair County, Iowa, to John B. and Zoah (Means) Mangels. She died September 11, 2010, in Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of 95.

As a young girl, Marie moved with her family to Creston, where she attended school and graduated from Creston High school. The last two years of high school. She worked for families for room and board when her parents left to work on the Civilian Conservation Corps.


On June 12, 1938, she married Benjamin Ralph Bender. To this union two children were born: a son John Ralph, who died in infancy; and a daughter Thelda Marie.


Marie and Ben spent much of their married lives in Creston and Osceola, where they owned and operated Bender Produce. They were active members of Crestmoor Golf Club. In the early 1960's, they moved to Atlantic, where they owned and operated the A&W Drive-In. Ben died in 1965.


Marie stayed in the Atlantic area until moving to Phoenix, Arizona in 2005. She worked in clothing stores in downtown Atlantic and sold real estate for Perin Real Estate.


In 1970, she married Fred Hansen of Marne. Fred died in 1977.


In 1982, she married Harold Wilkins. Harold died in 2008. She and Harold were members of the Wiota Methodist Church.


Marie was preceded in death by her parents; son John R. Bender; husbands Benjamin Bender, Fred Hansen, and Harold Wilkins; brothers Fred, Jack, and Floyd Mangels; and sister Thelda (Mangels) Queck.

She is survived by her daughter Thelda Marie Williams and husband Melvin of Phoenix, Arizona; three grandchildren: Murry Ralph Williams and wife Dana, Cynthia Marie Williams, and Christina Jo Smith, all of Phoenix; three great-grandchildren: Matthew Smith, Benjamin Williams, and John Williams of Phoenix, other relatives and friends.

Iowa memorial services will be held October 23, 2010, 11:00 a.m. at Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic with burial at Graceland Cemetery in Creston.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is assisting the family with the arrangements.