Eldon E. Bontrager, 91, died August 22, 2023, at Hester Care Center, Hutchinson, KS. He was born May 5, 1932, in Thomas, OK, to Eli S. and Delila (Miller) Bontrager.
Eldon was a farmer and the founder of Bontrager Custom Cabinets. He built kitchens for many homes in the area. For the past 18 years, Eldon was the early morning baker at Carolyn’s Essenhaus in Arlington, KS. He did not know a stranger and had an amazing ability to remember names and dates accurately.
Eldon grew up in Oklahoma and often spoke fondly of his boyhood days. He attended a one room school right next to their farm. A vivid memory was the day the schoolhouse burned down in 1938 when he was in the 1st grade.
When the draft was instated during the Korean War he went to work in a hospital in Kansas City. He often spoke of those years and how they contributed to strengthening his faith. He came back to marry Mary Ellen Yoder on his 23rd birthday in 1955 and they were privileged to celebrate 68 years together. They began married life in the Hutchinson, KS area, and moved to Kalona, IA for almost 3 years seeking medical help for Lynette. They returned in January of 1960. Many dreams and hopes were relinquished in the coming years as God called them to a life requiring much grace and endurance caring for their three handicapped daughters.
Eldon worked at Detroiter Manufacturing doing plumbing and then building cabinets. Later he was a partner of Prairie Construction and continued doing cabinets and trim work. After their move to Arlington he eventually started building cabinets on his own and Bontrager Custom Cabinets was founded.
In Aug. of 1968 they bought a farm and moved to the Arlington area. To some it seemed they moved to western Kansas. Eldon’s friendly personality built many relationships over the years. In 1998 they relocated to a smaller house across the drive to retire...but he did not retire. He continued farming and at age 70 he began working the early shift at Carolyn’s Essenhaus. He did that for 18 years and loved it. It was a good fit for him since he was often awake early anyway. He whistled as he fried donuts and assembled pies, and it fell to him to call the waitress if she overslept and needed a nudge. He was also the general maintenance man and fixed many things that malfunctioned. He knew no stranger and enjoyed many a glass of tea at the round table where the locals gathered daily to solve the world’s problems.
Eldon had rheumatic fever as a youth and knew his heart needed special care so he walked several miles almost daily. A pace maker supported his heart since 2015. He loved to drive around the countryside to check out the fields and see how everyone’s crops were doing. Not much escaped his watchful eye. He had a photographic memory and could remember dates and names with amazing accuracy. In these last few years we learned many things about people we did not know.
In 2020 Eldon spent 5 weeks in the hospital with Covid and his lungs were somewhat compromised since. He desperately wanted to get back to the restaurant and back to work but was never able. He avoided the recliner as long as he could, believing it would cause him to become decrepit. His work was his hobby.
He faithfully led his household in a daily devotional time and was a strong supporter of his church. His many stories about his time in 1W service inspired all his children to go into VS and many grandchildren have followed in his footsteps. It was his desire that God be glorified by his life.
Eldon is survived by: Mary Ellen, his wife of 68 years; children, Carolyn Bontrager, Arlington, Myron (Ilene) Bontrager, Arlington, Phyllis (Gareth) Yoder, Timpson, TX, and Marilyn (Dan) Korver, Ladysmith, WI; daughter-in-law, Mamie Bontrager, Arlington; 27 grandchildren; 52 great-grandchildren; brothers, Vernon (Alta) Bontrager and Perry Bontrager; sister, Anna Mae Ropp; and sister-in-law, Esther Bontrager.
He was preceded in death by: his parents; children, Lynette Bontrager, LaVon Bontrager, Faith Bontrager, and Regina Bontrager; three stillborn grandchildren; siblings, Ruby Miller and husband Alvin, Henry Bontrager and wife Lydia Mae, Joe Bontrager and wife Salina, Sarah (stillborn), and Floyd Bontrager; brother-in-law, Lloyd Ropp; and sister-in-law, Pauline Bontrager.
Funeral will be 10 a.m. Monday, August 28, 2023, at the Arlington Amish Mennonite Church, 15611 W. Arlington Road, Arlington, KS. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, August 27, 2023, with the family present at the church.
Memorials are suggested to the Arlington Amish Mennonite Church to benefit the ’Local Needs Fund,’ in care of Elliott Mortuary and Crematory, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.