Richard "Dick" F. Bohnke

Richard F. “Dick” Bohnke, 91, of Monroeville, Indiana passed away Friday, January 1, 2021, at Lutheran Life Villages in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

He was born on January 19, 1929, in Allen County, Indiana to the late Lawrence H. Bohnke and the late Edna H. (Grotrian) Bohnke. Richard was united in marriage to Rhea M. (West) Bohnke on June 5, 1949, at St. John Lutheran Church, Flatrock. They were married 68 years before Rhea passed away on September 2, 2017.

Dick was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Flatrock where he served as Treasurer of the church for 35 years. He was a member of the Hoagland Area Advancement Association and the Lutheran Layman League. In addition, he served on the board for the Rea Magnet Wire Credit Union.

He was employed with Rea Magnet Wire for 35 years before retiring in 1986. He was also a self- employed owner of a pallet business from 1986 until his “second retirement” which only began in 2018.

Survivors include three daughters, Michele M. (William) Hosmon of Evansville, Indiana, Peggy C. (Gary) Turner of Searcy, Arkansas, and Patricia J. (Ronald) Clark of Martinsville, Indiana; daughter-in-law, Sally Bohnke of Fort Wayne, Indiana; two sisters, Mary L. (Rev. Jerrold) Nichols of Fort Wayne, Indiana and Kathryn R. (James) Somers Angola, Indiana; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Dick was preceded in death by two sons, Patrick Bohnke (in infancy) and Michael Bohnke; and a brother, William Bohnke.

As a result of the COVID Pandemic and in keeping the public safe, private family services were held at St. John Lutheran Church, Flatrock with Pastor Douglas Christian officiating. Burial followed in St. John Lutheran Church, Flatrock Cemetery. The service will be live-streamed on the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home Facebook page on Wednesday. It will be available by late morning for watching.

In lieu of flowers, Dick’s family asks that preferred memorials be directed to his beloved church, St. John Lutheran Church, Flatrock or Concordia High School Educational Foundation. The memorials can be sent to the Decatur office of Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home.

Arrangements by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Jacobs Chapel in Monroeville, Indiana.