On Nov. 28, Larry Bontrager’s family lost a husband and father. Elkhart County lost a friend.
Bontrager, 59, died while fishing on Baldwin Lake in Union, Mich. An avid outdoorsman, he died doing something he enjoyed. He also loved doing good things for others, and left us with an example worth following.
Bontrager's voluntarism was wide-ranging. Sometimes he was a handyman, at other times a financial donor. Whatever his efforts, they were appreciated.
Bontrager was key in establishing the Middlebury Boys and Girls Club and he was involved in Goshen Rotary Club projects. He rang bells for the Salvation Army. He worked on Help-A-House. And he gave gifts — anonymously — to people in his church congregation who were in need.
That’s an impressive list of good works. We get the feeling it’s abbreviated.
As a Realtor and owner of Bontrager Hardies Realty, Bontrager knew business success. He also knew there were people who could use a helping hand.
“In so many ways, Dad was blessed and because of that, he felt a deep calling to give back to the community,” recalled Bontrager’s daughter, Natalie Thomas.
That’s “deep calling,” not mandate. Bontrager wasn’t required to do anything for anyone. He chose to anyway. Elkhart County is the better for it, and Larry Bontrager will be missed.
