Pamela Bentley

Bentley, Pamela A. MADISON - On Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2007, Pamela A. Bentley, age 68, wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend, passed away at the HospiceCare Center, Fitchburg, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Pam was born in Madison, on March 31, 1939, to Ethel and Willard Zulke. She graduated from Madison East High School in 1957 and attended UW-Madison. Pam and Richard Bentley were married on April 23, 1960, and shared 47 wonderful years of marriage together. Richard was a great source of comfort and strength for her. Pam?s life centered around her family. She was very proud that she was able to stay home and raise her children, and felt blessed that as adults, her children chose to live close to home. Pam loved to have regular family gatherings to celebrate everything from traditional holidays and birthdays, to Packers or pizza parties. She anxiously awaited the day when she would become a grandmother, and was so thrilled and proud when Ava Bentley Keach was born. Ava was a constant source of joy and laughter for Pam. She would completely light up whenever Ava entered the room. When Pam?s youngest son, Jason, attended Lowell Elementary School in Madison, she began volunteering in the school library. Because of Pam?s special gift for teaching, she was recruited to teach beginning reading skills to kindergartners for the Rock and Read Program at Lowell. She remained in that position for the next 20 years and truly made a difference in the lives of all of the children she taught. Pam will be greatly missed by her many friends at Lowell. She loved the ballet, antiques, classical music, movies and golden retrievers. Her close friend, Shirley, shared many of Pam?s interests. They were avid movie goers, often taking in double features and celebrating their own yearly ?Oscar Parties?. They also enjoyed going out to lunch, as well as traveling to Chicago and New York for shopping and the theater. Pam will lovingly be remembered by her husband and best friend, Richard; their three children, Todd (Patrice), Tricia (John Keach) and Jason (Valerie Tobias); their precious granddaughter, Ava; her mother, Ethel Zulke; sister, Cheryl (Leonard Allikas); brothers-in-law, Bob Murphy (Carolyn Belz) and Ray (Carol) Bentley; sister-in-law, Joyce Bentley; her incredibly loyal golden retriever, Midas; as well as extended family and dear friends. A service celebrating Pam?s life will be held at TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, 1904 Winnebago St., Madison, at noon on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007, with the Rev. John Ruppenthal officiating. The family will greet friends and relatives at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the church service. For those who so desire, memorial donations may be made in memory of Pam to HospiceCare Inc., American Cancer Society, or Trinity Lutheran Church. The family wishes to express a special thank you to the amazing staff at HospiceCare, for their extraordinary care and support during this very difficult time, and for the many visits from Pastor Ruppenthal, from Trinity Lutheran Church, where Pam was a longtime member. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Centers 5203 Monona Drive (608) 221-5420 www.gundersonfh.com