Perry E Bontrager, 98, of Kalona, passed from this life Sunday, May 26,2024, at the Parkview Nursing Home, Wellman, Iowa. Visitation will be on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m., at Sharon Bethel Amish Mennonite Church, Kalona. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, May 30, 2024, at the church. Burial will follow at the East Union Cemetery.
Perry was born July 16, 1925, in Fayette County Iowa, the son of Edward and Elizabeth (Miller) Bontrager. He married Gertie Yoder on Dec. 9, 1948, in Fairbanks, Iowa. Gertie passed away on June 14, 2001. On June 29, 2002, Perry was married to Martha Schlabach.
Perry and Gertie lived in Buchanan County, Iowa for the first five years of their married life and then lived a short stay in Elkhart County, Indiana, and Jamesport, Missouri, they returned to Buchanan County for five years before moving to Kalona in 1960. They made their home on a farm on the Angle Road near Frytown, then to a farm on Highway 22, west of Kalona. It is at this farm that many of the family’s memories as growing children were made. In 1976 Perry and Gertie purchased a property on Highway 1 north of Kalona and built a new farmstead, which they named “Hobby Hill”. In 1962 Perry and Gertie joined the Sharon Bethel Amish Mennonite Church. While crops and farm animals, such as hogs and chickens were the mainstays of Perry’s life, he was known to take on many side projects, including construction work, truck toppers, Belgian horses, and PVC fencing, he loved auctions of all types, he accumulated quite a collection of antiques from the many auctions he attended.
Perry loved to travel. His trips included, Central and South America, Germany, Europe, Haiti, and Africa, wintered several years in Phoenix, Arizona, and spent many winters in Pinecraft, Florida. Perry and Martha traveled to Hawaii, Alaska, The Northeast United States, and The Western United States, as well as regular winter stays in Pinecraft.
Survivors include his wife: Martha; and seven children: Edna Fern (Earl) Peachey of Mattawana, Pennsylvania, Amos Leroy (Fannie) Bontrager, Wellman, Laura Mae (Dannie) Gingerich, Arthur, Illinois, Rosella (Larry) Schrock, Kalona, Viola Elaine (Glenn) Coblentz, Wauseon, Ohio, Loretta Joy (Wayne) Fisher, Clarkrange, Tennessee, and Linda Sue (Dave) Petersheim, New Providence, Pennsylvania; one son-in-law: Moses Mast of Virginia Beach, Virginia; 28 grandchildren; and 54 great-grandchildren.
Perry is preceded in death by his parents; his first wife: Gertie; one daughter: Anna Mabel (Moses) Mast; one grandson: Vincent Lane Peachey; six brothers, William, Enos, Harry, Joe, Edward, and Andrew; and three sisters: Fannie, Sarah, and Edna.
The family extends a special appreciation to the staff at the Reflections at Parkview Assisted Living and the Parkview Nursing Home for their loving care of their father.
Memorials may be made to the Sharon Bethel Church. The Beatty Peterseim Funeral Home is assisting the family.
