Roland Bent, 94, died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, with members of his family at his side. His death came from the complications of advancing age. He is survived by his wife, Adeline Behnke Bent, with whom he shared 721/2 years of holy matrimony. Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin on December 27, 1915 he married Adeline on November 24, 1937. At a time when steady work was rare and luxuries few, they started to build a life together.
At the age of sixteen Roland started his first bicycle shop that eventually became the family business operated by his parents, Norman & Edna Bent in Green Bay, WI. Roland's father had learned the bicycle trade from Roland's granduncle and Roland learned the trade from his father. That tradition started a family history in the bicycle business going back to the early 20th century. While contributing to the war effort building submarines, Roland and Adeline continued the family bicycle tradition when he opened a bicycle & motorcycle shop in 1943 in Manitowoc, WI. That business grew as did his family with the arrival of a daughter and three sons. Over the years all four children would become active in the family business.
By the late 1950s, relief from the cold winters of Wisconsin sent Roland & Adeline on a search for a warmer climate where they could relocate the family business. That search led them to Lakeland where they opened Bent's Bicycle Shop in 1961 on South Florida Avenue in "Dixieland." Over the intervening years Roland's business thrived with many second and third generation customers purchasing bikes as their parents had done for them. The family's bicycle tradition continues with son Steven now the proud owner of the family business.
An enduring legacy enjoyed by many Lakeland residents and visitors is the bicycle/pedestrian path around Lake Hollingsworth. In the 1970's Roland was instrumental in the effort to provide a safe and scenic location for all bicyclists to enjoy the sport of cycling. Roland, with the support of city and state officials, worked to create a unique and outstanding recreational venue that countless bicyclists and pedestrians have come to enjoy.
Roland is survived by his wife Adeline Behnke Bent; his daughter Sandra Oestreich and her husband Walter of Lakeland; his son Charles Bent and his wife Davette of Rockville, VA; his son Steven Bent and his wife Vicki of Lakeland; his son Jeffery Bent of Petersburg, VA plus seven grandsons, one granddaughter, five great-grandsons, three great-granddaughters and many nephews and nieces.
The family will receive friends in a celebration of Roland's life from 4 PM to 7 PM on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at Lakeland Memorial Gardens, 2125 Bartow Road, Lakeland, FL. Church services will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 4450 Harden Blvd, Lakeland, FL at 11 AM on Monday, March 8, 2010. Burial will follow at Lakeland Memorial Gardens
At the age of sixteen Roland started his first bicycle shop that eventually became the family business operated by his parents, Norman & Edna Bent in Green Bay, WI. Roland's father had learned the bicycle trade from Roland's granduncle and Roland learned the trade from his father. That tradition started a family history in the bicycle business going back to the early 20th century. While contributing to the war effort building submarines, Roland and Adeline continued the family bicycle tradition when he opened a bicycle & motorcycle shop in 1943 in Manitowoc, WI. That business grew as did his family with the arrival of a daughter and three sons. Over the years all four children would become active in the family business.
By the late 1950s, relief from the cold winters of Wisconsin sent Roland & Adeline on a search for a warmer climate where they could relocate the family business. That search led them to Lakeland where they opened Bent's Bicycle Shop in 1961 on South Florida Avenue in "Dixieland." Over the intervening years Roland's business thrived with many second and third generation customers purchasing bikes as their parents had done for them. The family's bicycle tradition continues with son Steven now the proud owner of the family business.
An enduring legacy enjoyed by many Lakeland residents and visitors is the bicycle/pedestrian path around Lake Hollingsworth. In the 1970's Roland was instrumental in the effort to provide a safe and scenic location for all bicyclists to enjoy the sport of cycling. Roland, with the support of city and state officials, worked to create a unique and outstanding recreational venue that countless bicyclists and pedestrians have come to enjoy.
Roland is survived by his wife Adeline Behnke Bent; his daughter Sandra Oestreich and her husband Walter of Lakeland; his son Charles Bent and his wife Davette of Rockville, VA; his son Steven Bent and his wife Vicki of Lakeland; his son Jeffery Bent of Petersburg, VA plus seven grandsons, one granddaughter, five great-grandsons, three great-granddaughters and many nephews and nieces.
The family will receive friends in a celebration of Roland's life from 4 PM to 7 PM on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at Lakeland Memorial Gardens, 2125 Bartow Road, Lakeland, FL. Church services will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 4450 Harden Blvd, Lakeland, FL at 11 AM on Monday, March 8, 2010. Burial will follow at Lakeland Memorial Gardens
Roland Bent, 94, died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, with members of his family at his side. His death came from the complications of advancing age. He is survived by his wife, Adeline Behnke Bent, with whom he shared 721/2 years of holy matrimony. Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin on December 27, 1915 he married Adeline on November 24, 1937. At a time when steady work was rare and luxuries few, they started to build a life together.
At the age of sixteen Roland started his first bicycle shop that eventually became the family business operated by his parents, Norman & Edna Bent in Green Bay, WI. Roland's father had learned the bicycle trade from Roland's granduncle and Roland learned the trade from his father. That tradition started a family history in the bicycle business going back to the early 20th century. While contributing to the war effort building submarines, Roland and Adeline continued the family bicycle tradition when he opened a bicycle & motorcycle shop in 1943 in Manitowoc, WI. That business grew as did his family with the arrival of a daughter and three sons. Over the years all four children would become active in the family business.
By the late 1950s, relief from the cold winters of Wisconsin sent Roland & Adeline on a search for a warmer climate where they could relocate the family business. That search led them to Lakeland where they opened Bent's Bicycle Shop in 1961 on South Florida Avenue in "Dixieland." Over the intervening years Roland's business thrived with many second and third generation customers purchasing bikes as their parents had done for them. The family's bicycle tradition continues with son Steven now the proud owner of the family business.
An enduring legacy enjoyed by many Lakeland residents and visitors is the bicycle/pedestrian path around Lake Hollingsworth. In the 1970's Roland was instrumental in the effort to provide a safe and scenic location for all bicyclists to enjoy the sport of cycling. Roland, with the support of city and state officials, worked to create a unique and outstanding recreational venue that countless bicyclists and pedestrians have come to enjoy.
Roland is survived by his wife Adeline Behnke Bent; his daughter Sandra Oestreich and her husband Walter of Lakeland; his son Charles Bent and his wife Davette of Rockville, VA; his son Steven Bent and his wife Vicki of Lakeland; his son Jeffery Bent of Petersburg, VA plus seven grandsons, one granddaughter, five great-grandsons, three great-granddaughters and many nephews and nieces.
The family will receive friends in a celebration of Roland's life from 4 PM to 7 PM on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at Lakeland Memorial Gardens, 2125 Bartow Road, Lakeland, FL. Church services will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 4450 Harden Blvd, Lakeland, FL at 11 AM on Monday, March 8, 2010. Burial will follow at Lakeland Memorial Gardens
At the age of sixteen Roland started his first bicycle shop that eventually became the family business operated by his parents, Norman & Edna Bent in Green Bay, WI. Roland's father had learned the bicycle trade from Roland's granduncle and Roland learned the trade from his father. That tradition started a family history in the bicycle business going back to the early 20th century. While contributing to the war effort building submarines, Roland and Adeline continued the family bicycle tradition when he opened a bicycle & motorcycle shop in 1943 in Manitowoc, WI. That business grew as did his family with the arrival of a daughter and three sons. Over the years all four children would become active in the family business.
By the late 1950s, relief from the cold winters of Wisconsin sent Roland & Adeline on a search for a warmer climate where they could relocate the family business. That search led them to Lakeland where they opened Bent's Bicycle Shop in 1961 on South Florida Avenue in "Dixieland." Over the intervening years Roland's business thrived with many second and third generation customers purchasing bikes as their parents had done for them. The family's bicycle tradition continues with son Steven now the proud owner of the family business.
An enduring legacy enjoyed by many Lakeland residents and visitors is the bicycle/pedestrian path around Lake Hollingsworth. In the 1970's Roland was instrumental in the effort to provide a safe and scenic location for all bicyclists to enjoy the sport of cycling. Roland, with the support of city and state officials, worked to create a unique and outstanding recreational venue that countless bicyclists and pedestrians have come to enjoy.
Roland is survived by his wife Adeline Behnke Bent; his daughter Sandra Oestreich and her husband Walter of Lakeland; his son Charles Bent and his wife Davette of Rockville, VA; his son Steven Bent and his wife Vicki of Lakeland; his son Jeffery Bent of Petersburg, VA plus seven grandsons, one granddaughter, five great-grandsons, three great-granddaughters and many nephews and nieces.
The family will receive friends in a celebration of Roland's life from 4 PM to 7 PM on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at Lakeland Memorial Gardens, 2125 Bartow Road, Lakeland, FL. Church services will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 4450 Harden Blvd, Lakeland, FL at 11 AM on Monday, March 8, 2010. Burial will follow at Lakeland Memorial Gardens
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