Gari Lee Bontrager, 72, West Plains, Missouri, passed away Sunday, December 22, 2024, at Ozarks Healthcare.
He was born March 11, 1952, at Goshen, Indiana, to Harvey and Joan Tucker Bontrager. On November 26, 1971, he was married at Comress City, Colorado, to Vicki Bickle. He loved working on and rebuilding cars. He also loved traveling; it wasn’t uncommon for him to wake up his kids in the middle of the night to leave on a spontaneous road trip. Mr. Bontrager enjoyed camping and boating and was a scout master for many years. He was a big fan of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football. For Gari, family always came first. He loved his family dearly and cherished spending time with them. One of Gari’s greatest accomplishments was fulfilling his lifelong dream of owning a plot of land with a shop on it that he could share with his family.
He is survived by his wife, Vicki Bontrager, West Plains; two children, Landon Bontrager and wife, Christina, West Plains and Lanaci Woods and husband, Devan, Milford, Indiana; four grandchildren, Hannah and Hunter Woods and Emma and Eirianna Bontrager; two brothers, Gwyn Bontrager and wife, Marsha, Shipshewana, Indiana and Greg Bontrager and wife, Robin, Spring Hill, Florida; three sisters-in-law, Karen Bohning and husband, Keith Demoine, Iowa, Marilyn Wolfe, San Tan Valley, Arizona and Gail Cox and husband, Ralph, LaCrescent, Minnesota; many nieces and nephews; and special companion, Benny the Beagle.
His parents and mother-in-law, Neola Melton, preceded him in death.
A celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date. Arrangements under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
