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Obituary for Valentine "Val" Bonk
Enosburg Falls – Valentine W. “Val” Bonk, 90, passed away on Tuesday evening, January 2, 2018 at his home, surrounded by his loving family.
Val was born on September 18, 1927 in Winooski, the son of Stanley and Martha (Ignaszewski) Bonk. He started work at the age of 11, sweeping floors in the drug store in Winooski eventually moving to the soda counter. Val lived with his grandparents during high school and supported himself at the Woolen Mills and as a projectionist at the local movie theater.
A graduate of Winooski High School, Val entered WW II after completing his senior year midterms and received his diploma in the spring. Val served in the US Navy in the Pacific, turning 18 in Saipan. He was directly involved in the invasion of Okinawa on the USS LCI 648, a rocket landing craft. Following this duty, Val went to China and was discharged in 1946.
After the war, Val resided with his Aunt and graduated from Burlington Business College on the GI Bill. He then worked for McGovern in Cambridge where he met his wife-to-be, Marie Sweeney and taught her to drive a car. On March 26, 1951 Val and Marie were married in Cambridge and moved to Bakersfield to raise a family.
Val was the Business/General Manager of Champlain Chevrolet from July 1961 until August 1991 at which time he became Co-Owner/Vice President , partnering with his son, Robert; totaling 56 remarkable years of dedication to the business. He continued to have a presence at the business until very recently. He was also the owner of Val’s Mobile Park in Enosburg. He was a recipient of Chevrolet and Deluxe Homes awards for his outstanding sales.
Well known and respected for his community involvement, Val had served on the Bakersfield Zoning Board, as a Trustee in Enosburg, a member of the Enosburg Lions Club where he started the food booth for June Dairy Days and managed the booth for the first 50 years. Val helped start the Enosburg Industrial Park, supported the Enosburg Opera House, was a member of the K of C in St. Albans, American Legion Post # 42 in Enosburg, the Franklin County Industrial Development Corp. and was a recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellow award from the Lions. The 2016 Enosburgh Town Report was dedicated to Val in recognition of his many years of service to the community.
Val especially loved and supported his family throughout his entire life. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with family.
Val is survived by his children and their spouses, Valarie and Felix Snider, Robert “Bob” and Debbie Bonk, Walter Bonk, Martha and Cliff Kirkpatrick and Deborah and Michael Lewis; 11 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his wife Marie who died in 1996 and parents, Val was predeceased by a son Stephen Bonk, who died in 1976 and siblings Czeslaw Bonk, Anastasia Fuller and Theodore Bonk.
At Val’s request, a private family service will be held at the Heald Funeral Home in St. Albans with interment to take place at Maple Grove Cemetery in Bakersfield. There are no calling hours planned. A public celebration of Val’s life will be announced at a later date.
Val’s family would like to especially thank his caregivers for the care and attention provided during his illness.
Those wishing to honor Val with a memorial gift may do so to the Friends of the Opera House, PO Box 1250, Enosburg Falls, VT 05450.
Messages of condolence may be sent to Val’s family at www.healdfuneralhome.com
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