John Bongard, longtime resident of Prior Lake, passed away April 25, 2020 at the age of 67. Services will be held at a later date. Online condolences can be left at www.BallardSunderFuneral.com and cards mailed to Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, 104 First Street W., Jordan.
On July 28, 1952 in Hopkins, MN parents Mercel and Margaret (Glatzel) Bongard celebrated the birth of their son John. He was one of four children. John grew up in Hopkins where he also attended school. In his youth, he enjoyed visiting his family in Chaska and spending time at the Glatzel Shoe Shop.
Following his high school graduation from Hopkins, John began working at Pan Am. During this time, John traveled the world, experiencing many new cultures. Later, he began working at Valley Oil of Savage as a fuel driver. In his free time, John could be found landscaping his yard. While John was a hard worker, he always put his family first.
John was united in marriage with Deb Hotzler for 40 years and blessed with three boys—Paul, Sean, and Kyle. John was an exceptional, caring father. Whatever activities his children participated in John was there supporting his sons. He served as a boy scout leader for many years and attended countless soccer, baseball, and hockey games. Over the years, he even coached and refereed hockey.
As his children grew older, John shared his love of the outdoors with them. They made many great memories hunting deer, waterfowl, and pheasant together. John’s life was further enriched when he became a grandpa. His grandchildren brought him so much joy! They were constantly spoiled by him.
Despite enduring colon cancer for the past year and a half, John focused on what mattered most—his family. No matter the moment, big or small, John was a constant presence in his family’s lives.
John is loved and missed by his sons, Paul Bongard, Sean (Nikki) Bongard, and Kyle Bongard; grandchildren, Maverick & Vale Bongard; siblings, Sue Benson, Jim (Cathy) Bongard, and Ron Bongard; other relatives and friends. John is preceded in death by his parents, Mercel and Margaret.
Arrangements with Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home & Cremation, Prior Lake.
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Becky Bonnell
Our hearts break for all of you!!!
With love and prayers,
Cousin Becky and family
Bert Bongard
We are very sorry for the loss of John. Our thoughts and prayers go out to John and your entire family.
With Love
Bert and Tammy Bongard
Tom Haugh
I’m very sorry to hear about John, I Met John 2-3 years ago, we both delivered Parts at O’REILLY’s. We had a lot of laughs & fun times & I enjoyed working with him. He was a friend & I will miss him. Our thoughts & prayers are with you at this very sad time. Tom Haugh
Susie Brown
I loved John with all my heart and soul.. He was kind, generous , loving, funny, true and honestly the most wonderful person I have ever known. I will miss his beautiful face for the rest of my life. Thank you St. Francis hospital for letting me hug, kiss, stroke his beautiful face, and say goodbye to the love of my life.
Helyn
I’m so so sorry for your loss Susie he loved you very much as I know you loved him deeply and cherished the ground he walked on . He was a great guy. He will be missed greatly .
Terry Gesy
So very sorry to hear of Johns passing.my heart goes out to all of his family. Sending prays and hugs to all of you at this extremely difficult time.
Curt Meyer
We are very sorry to hear of John’s passing. Our love and prayers go out to the entire Bongard family.
We will miss chatting with him as he drove through the old neighborhood to check out what was changing.
Remember all the baseball games we had at the Pfeiler house? Lots of good memories.
Curt & Carol Meyer
Susan Kottom
Pete and I are so sorry for your loss. John was a great guy. NASCAR Sundays eating chicken wings at the Legion. He will always be in our hearts. So sad for you Susie and John’s family. We will miss him. Sue and Pete Kottom
Becky Maguire
I was very sorry to learn of John’s passing. Susie always spoke very highly of him, and often told me that he was “the kindest man in the world.” I pray that she and the rest of the family can find peace during this very difficult time. Safe travels John.
Steven Seering
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. Susie talked about John at school and mentioned how kind and wonderful he was. May God grant you His peace as you mourn the loss of a great human being. A friend of Susie Brown.
Janeen Massaros
I knew John and Susie from Karoake over the last several years. Susie is the singer, and John the support. John was always calm and relaxed, and enjoyed his time at the various venues with Susie. They were a lovely and loving couple, and enjoyed many good times as partners. John was a gentle soul, and loved his family and grandchildren very much. He will be missed. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Leanne Collins
I didn’t have a chance to meet John yet I know he was a caring person from the stories Susie shared . Every Friday Susie would connect with John during his chemo to chat .
Cherish all your special times together.
Helyn Weber
So sorry for your loss John will be missed by many . My prayers to his family for peace and comfort knowing he is at peace .
Tom Walters
John was always friendly, kind, humble and had a good sense of humor. Was great knowing him over the years and seeing him and Susie at the Dan Patch American Legion. We’ll miss him.
Please accept our deepest sympathies.
Rev 21:4
Terry Johnson
Our sympathies on John’s passing. We knew him from Karaoke at David Fongs and he will be deeply missed.
Mint Kunkel
I work with Susan at Hidden Valley Elementary as a reading tutor and I did not know John very well but I learned of him through Suzie’s stories of him. I am so sorry for John’s passing. I know that he was a very good father and he loved his children very much. I know that he had a big heart. Suzie and John shared a love for the past ten years or more. They shared many happy times together. We will all miss him.
Mary Paulseth
I have known John for many years, but he started coming to Karaoke a lot more after he met Susie Brown and then he really started loving Karaoke! He never sang, but he loved to listen to Susie sing and he became her Karaoke driver! I am really going to miss him, he was such a sweet soft spoken man. My condolences go out to his family & friends at this very difficult time.! I am so saddened to hear about his passing, such a sad time for all.
Dan & Karen Johnson
So sorry to hear about John. Our condolences to Suzie and his family. He was such a good and caring person. I always enjoyed seeing him and talking with him at karaoke. He was a really good pool player and I always enjoyed watching him beat Karen on Monday nights.
Lisa Fankhanel
Although I didn’t John well, I know how happy he made my sister Susie. And she adored him! Of special memory is a trip they made to Hawaii a few years ago. John went out of his way to make a suprise stopover in Seattle so Susie and I could see each other. What a wonderful day we all had! How caring and unselfish an act, like so many Susie has told me of. To all of you who are suffering, I extend to you my sincere condolences. May you all lean on and love one another in this sad time.
Lana Blumhoefer
I want to express my sincere sympathy to the family & friends of John who all knew & loved him. I am so sorry for your loss. He was such a good kind man & I hope your wonderful memories of him will help get you thru this difficult time. I knew John from seeing him at several singing locations when he was there with his special love Susi. They were always so happy together & I could tell how much they loved each other. He was truly a special man who was loved & will be missed by many.
Diane & George Martin
Jim & Cathy, please accept our heartfelt condolences on your brother John. Please know we will keep your entire family in our prayers. Take care of yourselves.
Mary Carey
My condolences to the whole family. I know how wonderful he was through Sue. I am so sorry for your loss Susie. My prayers to all of you. God bless your family and may he hold you in his arms and comfort you. Mary
Joel Brown
I was happy to have gotten to know John a little bit over the last several years, he was always a pleasure to be around. He told me about his own children, spoke of them glowingly. Sincere, genuine, and kind; I give his family and friends my condolences.
Rebecca Lamm
So sorry to hear of John’s passing. My condolences to all. I knew John through my sister, Susie, when they would come up north to visit our parents and family. He was lots of fun and always ready to lend a hand when needed. He will be greatly missed by all. Becky
Brenda Lendzion
We are so sorry for your loss. Our deepest sympathy. Prayers are with you all at this time of grieving.
With Love
Brenda and Alan Lendzion
Susie Brown
It’s been ten days since John breathed his last breath of life. He loved his sons. He bragged about how handsome Paul is. I argued my Kraig was cuter, but we decided the 2 of them could fight it out. Sean is the best husband and Dad a father could ever ask for. And Kyle is the son I knew the best. He was very experimental in the kitchen and would bring John treats from Perkins. His travelogues from Japan were awesome, and his solving of computer problems were epic. To add Maverick to the story. Every time John came home after being with Mav warmed my heart, but energized John’s stamina to live. And Nikki giving him Vale to hold… If you could have seen the joy in his beautiful face. I was so thankful. The 10 years I got to spend with John were the most incredible years of my life. I learned to love more completely, and I will miss him forever. Thank you John. Love always, Susie