Obituary: Henry (Hank) W. Bonk, 83, of Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT - (From Wallingford Funeral Home) Henry (Hank) W. Bonk, 83, of Wallingford, loving husband of 56 years to Maryann (Jezierski) Bonk, passed peacefully on March 11, 2021 after a long and courageous battle with MS.

A cherished father and devoted husband, Henry was born in Meriden CT, the son of the late Walter and Beatrice (Kasprzycki) Bonk.

He loved sports and played on the first Little League team in Wallingford, as well as football and lacrosse teams in his youth. His favorite teams were the Boston Red Sox and New York Giants.

A graduate of Tufts University, Henry was a successful chemist and inventor with 34 scientific patents while working for Upjohn Pharmaceutical, Dow Chemical and later as a consultant.

He proudly served his country in the US Army’s 101st Airborne Division, stationed in Fort Campbell, KY and South Korea.

Henry enjoyed playing golf and taking evening walks with friends and neighbors. He liked to travel to National Parks and the shoreline of Ogunquit, ME.

But his favorite place was always at home with his family. He will be remembered for his positive attitude, his overwhelming kindness, sincerity and for being a person who would never hold a grudge. He will be greatly missed.

Besides his wife Maryann, he leaves behind his daughters, Sue Schaedle and her husband Ken of Boulder, CO, and Melissa Bonk of Wallingford; his sisters, Laverne McKenzie of Branford and Joan Focareto of Wallingford; and by the granddaughter he adored, Jadyn Schaedle.

He was predeceased by his sister, Ann Monroe.

His family will receive relatives and friends at The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 North Main Street Ext., Wallingford on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 from 9 am until 10:30 am.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am at Most Holy Trinity Church in Wallingford. Face masks are required and Covid-19 precautions and social distancing needs to be observed for all services.

You can view his Mass via livestream by going to his webpage at www.wallingfordfh.com at 11 am on Wednesday.

Interment with military honors will be in St. John Cemetery in Wallingford. For online condolences you can visit his website at www.wallingfordfh.com.

Memorial donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the CT Dept. of Veterans Affairs at https://egov.ct.gov/dvadonations/donation/create.