Earl Leon Bontrager, 81, died Aug. 16, 2010, at Hospice House.

He was born Jan. 25, 1929, in Yoder, to William Edward and Polly Suzanne Yoder Bontrager.

He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1952-1954. He was a member of the American Legion Lysle Rishel Post #68 and VFW Bob Campbell Post #1361, both o f Hutchinson. Earl was retired from John Deere Sales.


He married Joan Rampenthal on Oct. 23, 1949, in Hutchinson. He then married Christina Lynn Stark on Aug. 19, 1977, in Newkirk, Okla. She survives.

Other survivors include: two daughters, Cindy McCue, and Patty Bringhurst and her husband Ron, all of Phoenix; four grandchildren, Lauren and Tierney Bringhurst, Jessica Clark and husband Aaron, Joel McCue; two great-grandchildren, Michaela and Avery Clark; sister, Amy Bontrager and husband Kenny, Sun City, Ariz.; two brothers, Eldon Bontrager and wife Phyllis, Yoder, and Larry Bontrager, Hutchinson.

Earl was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Bontrager, three sisters, Roberta Dinges, Barbara Stokes, and an infant sister.

Inurnment will be at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, Aug., 19, 2010, in Penwell-Gabel Cemetery and Mausoleum, Hutchinson. Memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at Emanuel Lutheran Church with Pastor Tim Carey officiating. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at Elliott Mortuary.

Memorials may be made to the Hutchinson Animal Shelter in care of the mortuary.

Visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave condolences for the family.