July 1, 1920-Nov. 11, 2013
Father Roger D. Bonifas, 93, of Landeck, died at 2:12 a.m. Monday at Vancrest Healthcare Center.
He was born July 1, 1920, in Van Wert County, to Linus J. and Henrietta E. (Pohlman) Bonifas, who preceded him in death.
Survivors include four sisters, Rita Kilbarger of Lancaster, Sr. Lucy Bonifas, OSF, Tiffin of Paducah, Ky., Agnes (Eugene) Krietemeyer of Fort Jennings and Velma (James Beckman) Frei of West Milton; two brothers, Ralph Bonifas and George (Dorothy) Bonifas of Landeck; 27 nieces and nephews; and many great- and great-great-nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by a brother, Rufus Bonifas; two sisters-in-law, Elizabeth “Betty” Bonifas and Melba Bonifas; and two brothers-in-law, Jerome Kilbarger and Arthur Frei.
Father Bonifas graduated from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington. He was ordained March 10, 1945, serving his first Mass the next day on March 11, 1945, at St. John the Baptist Church, Landeck. He was an associate pastor at St. Mary, Sandusky; St. Joseph, Crestline; Immaculate Conception, Bellevue; and St. Francis de Sales, Toledo. He was a pastor at St. Mary, Millersville/St. James, Kansas, Ohio; St. Mary of the Snows, Mansfield; Immaculate Conception Ottoville; and St. John the Baptist, Landeck/St. Patrick, Spencerville. He retired to residence in Lima St. John’s Catholic Church and then to St. Barbara in Cloverdale. In retirement, he assisted parishes in the Diocese of Toledo, the Diocese of Venice, Fla., and several other dioceses throughout the country.
Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Landeck, Bishop Leonard Blair officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. Thursday and from noon-3 p.m. Friday at Harter and Schier Funeral Home. A Reception of the Body and Vespers by Father David Reinhart will be held at 4 p.m. Friday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with visitation to follow from 4-8 p.m.
Special services include a Knights of Columbus service at 7:45 p.m. Thursday. The 4th Degree will also stand Honor Guard from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home and during the Vespers Service on Friday at the church. A Catholic Order of Foresters service will be held at 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to any of the churches that he has served or the Victor Huss Vocational Fund provided by the Catholic Order of Foresters.
To leave condolences for the family, visit harterandschier.com.