Mabel V. Bontrager

KALONA ? Mabel Viola Bontrager, 90, of Kalona died Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, at Pleasantview Home in Kalona.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, at the Upper Deer Creek Mennonite Church in rural Wellman, with Pastor Elmer Miller officiating. A graveside service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, in the East Union Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona. A memorial fund has been established for Ten Thousand Villages.

Mrs. Bontrager was born Aug. 1, 1925, in Kalona, to John A. and Lydia (Shetler) Miller. She was married to Perry M. Bontrager of Kalona on Jan. 26, 1947.

She accepted the Lord as her Savior and was baptized in her youth in the Old Order Amish Church. After her marriage, she transferred her membership to Upper Deer Creek Mennonite Church, where she was a faithful member for over 60 years. Mrs. Bontrager enjoyed many years of volunteering at the Crowded Closet and visiting with friends and family. Her greatest joy was having her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren visit her in her cottage and more recently as a resident of Pleasantview Home where she enjoyed socializing with her neighbors.

Mrs. Bontrager is survived by her six children, Miriam (Dave) Miller of Riverside, Ruth (Paul) Hershberger of Kalona, Dan (Gloria) Bontrager of Iowa City, Lois (Marc) Plank of Wellman, Dave (Mary) Bontrager of Iowa City, and Steve (Peggy) Bontrager of Tulsa, Oklahoma; 17 grandchildren, two step-granddaughters, 22 great-grandchildren, five step-great-grandchildren, one sister, Ada (Frank) Yoder of Kalona; and one brother, Lloyd Miller of Minnesota.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Mary (John) Yoder; two brothers, Ernest Miller and Ora Glen Miller; one brother-in-law, John A. Yoder; and two sisters-in-law, Arlis Miller and Edna Miller, and two great-grandsons.