James E Pender

James E. Pender, age 85, of Evansville, passed away Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at Deaconess Hospital. Jim was born February 24, 1929 in Ventura, CA to the late Lewis and Irene (Parker) Pender. The family soon moved to Tucson, AZ where Jim graduated from Tucson High School. After serving in the Falcon Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division, he came to Evansville in 1954 as the agent of a jockey friend riding at Dade Park. Jim enjoyed Evansville and the lifelong friends he met. He left the nomadic life of horse racing in 1956 and took night classes at Evansville College and attended banking school at the University of Wisconsin. After spending 25 years in banking and finance, Jim spent the next 25 years in the plastics business, retiring from Matrixx Group in 2007 when the business was sold. Jim enjoyed traveling, thoroughbred horse racing and golf. He bred horses and raced them mostly in Arizona, Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas. He loved and supported his children and grandchildren in every way possible. Jim especially enjoyed watching his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in sports and activities. Jim spent 58 years married to the love of his life, Jacqueline “Jackie” (Stocker) Pender, who survives him along with a daughter, Keri (Steve) Anslinger and two sons, Jim (Dana) Pender and Daniel Pender, all of Evansville; grandchildren, Chase, Chloe and Carlee Anslinger, Amber (Kyle) Hamilton, Rusty Pender, Michelle (Tom) Schaefer and Jacob Pender; six great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his siblings, Donna, Tom and Richard Pender and a grandson, Kevin Pender. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, August 30, 2014 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Rev. James Blessinger officiating. Entombment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, where the Vanderburgh County Retired Veterans Memorial Club will conduct military rites. Friends may visit with the family from 2:00 until 7:00 P.M. on Friday at Pierre Funeral Home, 2601 W. Franklin Street, where there will be a memorial service conducted at 4:00 P.M. Friends may also visit with the family from 9:30 A.M. until service time on Saturday at Corpus Christi. Memorial contributions may be made to Corpus Christi Catholic Church, the St. Vincent de Paul Society or to the Mater Dei Men’s Club.

James E Pender

February 24, 1929 - August 26, 2014