SHIPSHEWANA — Abraham A. Bontrager, 93, of Shipshewana, died at 8:07 p.m., on Tuesday, July 17, at his residence. He was born on Jan. 22, 1919, in Elkhart County, to Abraham R. and Susie (Christner) Bontrager. On Jan. 16, 1941 in LaGrange County he married Mary Ellen Frey; she died April 28, 2010.
Surviving are four daughters, Anna Marie (Delbert) Mast of LaGrange, Susie Ellen (John) Hostetler of Shipshewana, Elsie Mae (Richard) Stevens of New Paris, and Mary Etta (Wayne) Miller of Shipshewana; three sons, Freeman Jay (Mary Ellen) Bontrager of LaGrange, Menno Laverne (LaFonda) Bontrager of Brooklyn, Mich., and Harley Wayne (Tina) Bontrager of Goshen; a daughter-in-law, Zandra Bontrager of Elm City, N.C.; 27 grandchildren, 88 great grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren; and a stepbrother, Levi (Edna) Yoder of Topeka. He was preceded in death by his wife, both parents, a son, Ernest Dean Bontrager, three daughters, Amelia Irene, Alma Arlene and Lorene Kay Bontrager, a sister, Amelia Miller, two brothers, Amos and Harley Bontrager, two stepsisters, four stepbrothers and two grandchildren.
He was a farmer and a member of the Old Order Amish Church. He also worked at the lumber yard and Ace Hardware in Shipshewana and HWI in Topeka.
Visitation will be after 2 p.m. on Wednesday July 18, and all day Thursday July 19, at the family residence, 7155 W. 250 North, Shipshewana. Funeral services will be at 9:30 a.m. on Friday July 20, at the Orville Miller residence, 2070 N. 700 West, Shipshewana. Services will be conducted by Bishop Casper Hochstetler and the home ministers. Burial will be in East Barren Cemetery, Shipshewana.
Miller-Stewart Funeral Home, Middlebury, is assisting the family with arrangements.
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