Jerry Daniel Bontrager, 63, died Tuesday, September 3 at his home after a short illness. He was born in Garden City, Kansas on December 7, 1955. He graduated from Holcomb High School and for a brief time farmed with his family. In 1974 he met and married the late Kathleen Jean Smith and began working for Garden City Co-op until November 1987. Jerry then decided it was time for a change of scenery so in 1987 he moved to Lawrence, KS. Shortly thereafter he met Shelley Langston and they were married in 1992. In 1999 he married Joni Loper, a longtime friend who he had known while living in Garden City, in the drive thru of the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, NV.  Jerry began work at Cardinal Construction where he made many friends. In 2008 when the building boom went bust Jerry went to work as maintenance/painter. Then in 2014 according to Jerry, he was offered a job at Vermont Towers where he loved the opportunity to support the needs of the residents and their dogs were almost like his other family.  Jerry is survived by his wife and his stepson, Adam Loper, both of the home: his mother, Emma Troyer Bontrager of Hutchinson, Ks: Nicole Strickland (Bill) of Parsons, Ks: Brook Carranza (James) of Satanta, KS: Stepdaughter, Shelby Garlock (Warren) of Baldwin, Ks. Jerry was preceded in death by his father, Roy Bontrager: his older brother, Curtis: grandson, Ky Daniel Bontrager Harris: and stepson, Timothy Loper. Jerry leaves behind six grandchildren. Services There will be a celebration of Jerry’s life at Southside Church of Christ on Saturday October 5 at 12:00 noon. Memorial Contributions  In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations made out to Southside Church of Christ in support of “The Zambia Drought Relief. ”

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Jerry Daniel Bontrager Obituary | Cremation Center of Kansas City