Obituary for Henry Francis Bonk
Henry Francis Bonk, 102, of West Hartford passed away on March 1, 2019. Henry was born in Hartford on January 18, 1917, to Bertha and Frank Bonk. As a young man, he had a milkman route with a horse-drawn wagon. After graduating from Hartford High School, he was a member of the graduating class of 1940 from American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts. He was awarded a full scholarship to Duke University Law School; however, due to WWII, he was only able to complete one year.
During WWII, he worked as a Government Inspector for the War Department. In 1945, he started Industrial Safety Supply by selling safety equipment out of his car, and by 1948, the business had a physical storefront in Hartford. In 1955, he relocated the business to West Hartford where it grew to multiple buildings over the following decades. The business was a passion, and he continued to work well into his 90s.
He is predeceased by his wife, Mae, and his four brothers, Peter, John, Theodore and Stanley.
He is survived by his sons, William and wife, Catherine, and James and wife, Judith. He leaves his grandchildren, Susan Klie and husband, Andrew, Caroline Jamroz and husband, Scott, and William Bonk Jr. and wife, Tiffany. Henry was also a great grandfather to five: Charlotte Klie, Katherine and Hannah Jamroz, and Connor and Ellie Bonk. Calling hours will be at Sheehan-Hilborn-Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Ave., West Hartford from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5th.
Burial will be a private affair at Mount St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Online condolences may be made a www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com
During WWII, he worked as a Government Inspector for the War Department. In 1945, he started Industrial Safety Supply by selling safety equipment out of his car, and by 1948, the business had a physical storefront in Hartford. In 1955, he relocated the business to West Hartford where it grew to multiple buildings over the following decades. The business was a passion, and he continued to work well into his 90s.
He is predeceased by his wife, Mae, and his four brothers, Peter, John, Theodore and Stanley.
He is survived by his sons, William and wife, Catherine, and James and wife, Judith. He leaves his grandchildren, Susan Klie and husband, Andrew, Caroline Jamroz and husband, Scott, and William Bonk Jr. and wife, Tiffany. Henry was also a great grandfather to five: Charlotte Klie, Katherine and Hannah Jamroz, and Connor and Ellie Bonk. Calling hours will be at Sheehan-Hilborn-Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Ave., West Hartford from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5th.
Burial will be a private affair at Mount St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Online condolences may be made a www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com