BONKER, Ernest 1907-2001

BONKER

Posted By: Kermit Kittleson
Date: 4/13/2011 at 18:01:40

ERNEST W. BONKER

MANLY - Ernest W. Bonker, 94, of Mason City, formerly of Manly, died Wednesday (May 16, 2001) at USA Healthcare Center in Mason City.

The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Hogan-Bremer Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E. in Mason City, with the Rev. Kenneth Hatland of Trinity Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Hogan-Bremer Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., Mason City.

Ernest William Bonker was born on Jan. 26, 1907, in Worth County, the son of Herman and Margaret (Bierbaum) Bonker. He attended country schools in Worth County. Ernest was baptized and confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Manly, where he was the last surviving charter member.

On Feb. 6, 1935, Ernest was united in marriage with Gertie M. Gottschalk at Manly. The couple made their home in Worth County.

Early on they farmed in rural Manly, and, in later years, they moved to Kensett where Ernest was the custodian at Bethany Lutheran Church.

Ernest and Gertie were married for 57 wonderful years when she passed away in 1993.

Ernest was truly an outdoorsman. He loved nature and fishing, but most importantly, farming was his life. Even in recent years, Ernest enjoyed spending time taking rides in the car with family. He would spend hours admiring others' gardens, lawns, and crops.

Ernest was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City.

Those left to cherish his memory are two daughters, Margaret Fisher and her husband, Richard, of Mason City, and Pearl Buechele and her husband, Leland, of Bonita Springs, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews.

Ernest was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Gertie; two sisters, Lydia Johnson, and Alvina Foley; and two brothers, Arthur Bonker, and a brother in infancy.

Hogan-Bremer Colonial Chapel, (641) 423-2372.

Globe Gazette