Gari Lee Bontrager

 

Gari Lee Bontrager, age 72, of West Plains, Missouri, passed away on Sunday, December 22, 2024, at Ozarks Healthcare.

 

Gari was born on March 11, 1952, in Goshen, Indiana, to Harvey and Joan Tucker Bontrager. On November 26, 1971, he married the love of his life, Vicki Bickel, in Commerce City, Colorado. Together, they built a life filled with love, adventure, and family.

 

Gari had a deep passion for cars and spent much of his life working on and rebuilding them. He was also an avid traveler who loved to take spontaneous road trips. It wasn’t unusual for him to wake up his children in the middle of the night for a surprise adventure. He enjoyed camping, boating, and was a dedicated scoutmaster for many years, sharing his love of nature and outdoor activities with countless scouts. A lifelong fan of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football, Gari’s enthusiasm for the team was a constant source of joy.

 

Above all, Gari valued family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and brother, and he always placed his family first. One of his greatest accomplishments was fulfilling his lifelong dream of owning a piece of land with a shop, where he could spend time with his family and share his love of working on cars and enjoying life together.

 

Gari is survived by his wife, Vicki Bontrager, of West Plains; two children, Landon Bontrager and wife, Christina, of West Plains, and Lanaci Woods and husband, Devan, of Milford, Indiana; four grandchildren, Hannah and Hunter Woods, and Emma and Eirianna Bontrager; two brothers, Gwyn Bontrager and wife, Marsha, of Shipshewana, Indiana, and Greg Bontrager and wife, Robin, of Spring Hill, Florida; three sisters-in-law, Karen Bohning and husband, Keith, of Des Moines, Iowa, Marilyn Wolfe of San Tan Valley, Arizona, and Gail Cox and husband, Ralph, of La Crescent, Minnesota; many nieces, nephews, and a special companion, Benny the Beagle.

 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Joan Bontrager, and his mother-in-law, Neola Melton.

 

A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

 

Gari will be deeply missed by all who knew him, but his memory and the love he shared will live on in the hearts of his family and friends.