Tribute to Another Good Man: Larry Bontrager

I was trying to recover from the Memorial of Norm, which was on Saturday, November 28^th. This happened to be my 60^th birthday. The next day after church we were all wiped out and still feeling pretty sad about Norm. Sunday evening a friend called me from Fitness USA where we do water aerobics. She called to tell me happy birthday and to inform me of more bad news.

Last year about this time we were really struggling with our finances. Work had pretty much crashed and hours were cut. We had medical bills and were trying to decide if we wanted to the sell the house or what we needed to do. The women at health club are a pretty tight knit bunch. I was discussing the problem with one of the women who told me about her brother-in-law who is a realtor. His wife is a sister to this lady. She told me that Larry could help us out with an appraisal.

Larry and his wife Norma Bontrager are Christians. Norma told me to call her husband, which I did. He was very kind and came to the house and gave us an appraisal. He told us what he suggested that we do as far as keeping the house and what the value was. He told us that we would be better off keeping it and hanging tight. He was a very caring and sensitive man. He said he wasn't going to charge us for the appraisal that he knew that we were already financially strapped. We were very grateful and he gave us hope.

I later gave his wife a painting for Larry and for her too for all of their help. Larry and Norma have been instrumental in getting the Girls and Boys Club started in Middlebury, Indiana. I went with Norma to the club and we have discussed my volunteering a couple of times. I told her I would help the children paint. She volunteers there once a week.

This is just one of the many things that Norma and Larry do for their community. They have grown children, family and many friends.

My friend told me that she heard at church that Larry had been fishing on Saturday. Norma was at the Fitness Center and later went to lunch with her sister. They went their separate ways after lunch. Norma called her sister to tell her that they were at the hospital. Larry had fallen out of his boat and drowned in the lake. He was only 59 years old. He was just a matter of months younger than I am.

This is another horrible tragedy. It is hard to understand why such things happen. I can't imagine the grief that Norma and her kids and family are going through. It is a horrible shock. Please keep them all in your prayers. I know we will. Rest in peace Larry. You were a very good man. We are honored to have had you in a time of need and will be eternally grateful to you for your selflessness. I am sure that there are many others who have been blessed by you too.