Bontrager, Chris (1905-2002)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2002 Aug 5 p. 11

Birth date: 1905 Nov 6

text of obituary:

CHRIS BONTRAGER

Chris Bontrager, 96, of Sarasota, Fla., died July 11, 2002, at Sarasota Health Care Center. He was born Nov. 6, 1905, near Middlebury, Ind., to John and Fanny (Yoder) Bontrager.

At age 18 he and his family moved to western New York and became active members of the newly founded Alden Mennonite (Conservative) Church. He married Viola Albrecht on June 30, 1929.

While serving on the mission board at Alden Mennonite, Chris and his wife began having Sunday school classes for community children in their home and in neighboring homes in Williamsville, N.Y. Later these classes were held in the community fire hall. This was the beginning of Harris Hill Mennonite Church. Chris was a frequent summer Bible school superintendent and adult Sunday school teacher.

In 1979 he and Viola moved to Sarasota, where he continued his active involvement in church responsibilities at Tuttle Avenue Mennonite Church, which later became Bahia Vista Mennonite Church. He was a salesman by profession.

Survivors include three children, Jean Bender-Mast and her husband, John, of Williamsville, N.Y.; G. Edwin and his wife, Edie, of Hampton, Va.; and Dennis and his wife, Alice, of Sarasota; a brother, John Jr. of Alden; four sisters, Martha Jantzi of Goshen, Ind., Edna Schlabach of Clarence, N.Y., Frances Greaser of Goshen, and Rosa Yoder of Hartville, Ohio; 12 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Viola, in 1998, a son, Merlin, in 1989, and four brothers.

The funeral service was held at the Bahia Vista Mennonite Church.