Wayne Louis Bentler

Wayne was born in Seattle in 1943 to Louis and Caroline Bentler, the only son with six sisters.  He graduated from Foster High School on a Friday and started work on the following Monday at Pamco Crankshaft Service, a local business.

Working in the neighborhood, he joined Foster Volunteer Fire Department District 18. By the time he left the Fire Department ten years later, he had attained the position of Assistant Fire Chief.  He loved being a fireman and even though he was no longer a volunteer he still had to chase down any smoke or fire truck he saw. 

In 1966 he married the love of his life, Mary Lambe.  The following year the first of their four children, Christine, was born.  Two years later their second child, Sharon, was born, and five years after that they completed their family with the birth of twins, Gregory and Elizabeth.   Having outgrown their two bedroom house, they moved to West Seattle.  Around the same time he changed jobs and began working at Precision Engineering, the company he would later retire from.

In 1989 the family continued to grow when Christine married Tim Bruce, and again in 1993 when Sharon married Jay Hayes. The family expansion continued in 2000 when Gregory married Kristin Keller, and once more in 2008 when Elizabeth married Chuck Taylor.  From these unions he was blessed with eight grandchildren, and was rarely seen without his green World’s Greatest Grandpa sweatshirt. 

Wayne was a family man first and passed on his love of the outdoors by taking his family camping and teaching his children to fish, crab, and enjoy all things outdoors.  There is no corner of Washington State he did not explore, and Sundays were always spent on a drive somewhere.  Later he enjoyed sharing his love of the outdoors with his grandchildren as well.

Wayne loved gardening, and his family and neighbors all enjoyed the bounty of his vegetable garden.  He was passionate about music and enjoyed many genres.  He could spend hours listening to a newly discovered artist or favorite CD.

In later years he developed a passion for cooking and was known for his home made sausage and sauerkraut.  A family favorite was his home made spaghetti sauce.  He enjoyed watching cooking shows, trying new recipes, and family dinners. 

Wayne is survived by his wife Mary; children Christine, Sharon, Gregory and Elizabeth; and grandchildren Robert and Kelsey, Jacqueline, Andrew and Alexander, and Annie, Julia and William. 

A funeral mass will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church in Seattle on Thursday, June 22nd, at 11:00. 

In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to either the American Heart Association or your local Fire Department.

Please Share Memories of Wayne on the online guestbook at www.emmickfunerals.com

Emmick Family Funeral & Cremation Services ~ West Seattle