John Joseph Bonk

John Bonk, 82 of Wilmington, DE, went home to his heavenly father on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 with his loving family by his side.  John, a born again Christian, was baptized on October 30, 2002 and was a member of Bethany Baptist Church.  

He was born in Wilmington, son of the late Vincenty and Feliksa Trentowska Bonk.

John was an expertly skilled craftsman. Whether general carpentry and construction, plumbing, roofing, laying carpet and tile, and even mechanical repairs and handy work around the house, John had a propensity for doing the job and doing it very well.  He adhered to the adage to teach your children well and imparted his knowledge and many skills to his three sons.  When he was a very small child he once took his sister’s gold watch apart and made a good effort to put it back together.

John was also an avid outdoorsman. He loved hunting, fishing, crabbing and spending time on his family’s land, the “Happy Hunting Grounds.”  He often spoke of being in the woods or out on the water and of the peace and serenity of watching a sunrise.  He continued these activities all of his life.  He and his sons and grandchildren had an annual date when they all went crabbing.  They looked forward to Pop Pop’s  famous breakfast sandwiches whenever they went on a hunting, fishing or crabbing expedition and he also made sure there were enough blankets and pillows in the BRV (Big Red Van) in case anyone needed a nap.

Now the hunter is home from the woods and the fisherman home from the sea.

His most cherished memories were spent with his family, especially his grandchildren.  He was their dear Pop-Pop.  He had a grand sense of humor and loved to make jokes and make his family and friends laugh.  He was a man blessed of God.  His wife will miss her love, her friend, her “Rosebud”.  His sons will miss Dad/Pop and his grandchildren will miss their Pop-Pop.   

John is survived by his dearly beloved wife, Shirley (Lewandowski) Bonk; his sons, Jay (Ivy), Patrick (Ann) and Matthew (Heidi Bowman);  his grandchildren, Christina Marie Saffer (Howard), Brandon Jacob,  Ashley Elisabeth, Patrick Gabriel and Kaitlyn Rose Bonk, his step-granddaughters; Julia Todd (Matt), Carrie McGinnes  (Martin), his 5 step- great grandchildren;  Malachi, Jude, Ezra, Abram and Cannon;  his siblings, Frank Bonk and Tessie Grodzicki  and members of his extended family and friends.  John was predeceased by one sister and 5 older brothers.

A funeral service will be held at 11:30am on Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at the Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE 19808, where family and friends may visit beginning at 10:00am. Interment will be held privately with John’s family.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in John’s memory can be made to Autism Delaware, 924 Old Harmony Road, Suite 201, Newark, DE 19713.

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