John M. Bontrager

John M. Bontrager
September 08, 1913 - May 15, 2008
Kalona, Iowa
Visitation: 2-8 p.m. May 18, 2008 at Yoder-Powell Funeral Home
Funeral Service: 10:00 a.m. May 19, 2008 at Sunnyside Mennonite Church
Interment: May 19, 2008 at Fairview Cemetery
John M. Bontrager was born September 8, 1913 in Dodge City, Kansas the son of Menno and Mattie (Hochstetler) Bontrager. On December 16, 1937 he was united in marriage to Fannie Yoder in Defiance, Ohio. They lived in Kalona from 1939 until 1958 when they moved to Florida where John owned and operated a lawn care business until his retirement in 1978. They returned to Kalona in 1992. He was a member of the Sunnyside Mennonite Church. John died on Thursday, May 15, 2008 at the Pleasantview Home in Kalona following a sudden illness at the age of 94 years. John is survived by 8 children - Ruth Graber and husband Lynn of Kalona; Rollin Bontrager and wife Ann of Balsam Grove, NC; Marilyn Kelly and husband Norm of Memphis, TN.; John Bontrager of St. Louis, MI; James Bontrager and wife Elsie of Westcliff, CO.; Mervin Bontrager and wife Deb of Smithville, OH.; Terry Bontrager and wife Ada Kay of Wellman; Gene Bontrager and wife Mabel of Wellman; 21 grandchildren; 49 great grandchildren; 4 great-great grandchildren; a sister Lizzie Miller of Frytown; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Fannie; 4 brothers - Alton, Neal, Eli and Manuel; and 2 sisters - Barbara Chupp and Mary Gingerich.
A memorial fund has been established for Sunnyside Mennonite Church or the Pleasantview Home in Kalona.