Obituary

Funeral services for Herman J. Bontke, 71, were at 10:30 a.m. Friday in St. Paul Lutheran Church with the Rev. Gerald Boerger, pastor, officiating. Burial was in Plainview Memorial Park by Wood-Dunning Funeral Home. Mr. Bontke died Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2004, at his residence. He was born Feb. 19, 1933, in Plainview, the son of H.J. and Emma Stephan Bontke. He grew up as an only child and lived in the home of his birth, one mile from the Plainview Cotton Compress. He worked for Hale County as an equipment operator maintaining county roads, for Miller Flying Service in the parts department, was Hale County airport manager and had worked at Industrial Machine Service. He enjoyed working at St. Paul Lutheran Church and always had a helping hand for people. He served with the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft mechanic. He married Annie Elizabeth Wittig. She died May 2, 1978. Survivors include two daughters, Joyce Thompson of San Antonio and Mary Reese of Rangely, Colo.; one son, Norman Bontke of Amarillo; and a grandson, Jeremy Coleman of Durango, Colo. The family suggests memorials to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, St. Luke's Children's Hospital, or to a favorite charity.