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Dr. Leo V. Bongers, Past President of the Kansas
Dental Association, Passes Away at the age of 88
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 Dr.
Leo Vincent Bongers,
Hanover,
KS
passed away on October 12, 2010 in
Manhattan,
KS at the age of 88 years.
Leo was born July 19, 1922 in
Des Moines,
IA.
He was the eldest child and only son of Leo
Vincent and
Kathryn
Ann (Keeler) Bongers.
He attended
Anita,
IA public schools and
Dowling
Catholic
High
School in
Des Moines.
Leo worked in his father's pharmacy after
school and in the summers.
After graduation, he enrolled at
Creighton
University.
He worked his way through college washing
dishes in a restaurant and working in a pharmacy.
He met Margaret Stanosheck of
Odell,
NE while she was a student at
Duchesne
College in
Omaha.
They were married at
St. John's
Catholic Church on the Creighton campus on June 17,
1943.
They
were married for 62 years and had 7 children.
After serving in WWII in the
Pacific region as a hospital pharmacist, Leo
returned to finish his studies.
He graduated from Creighton University School
of Dentistry in 1948. Dr. Bongers was in family
practice for 50 years in Hanover and
Marysville,
KS.
He was a staff member of
Hanover
and
Marysville
Community
Hospitals, as well as a dental
consultant to Mary Marshall Manor and
Hanover
long-term care.
Dr. Bongers earned many
professional honors during his career.
He was president of the Kansas State Dental
Association in 1973, and president of the State of
Kansas Board of Dental Examiners in 1974.
He was president of the American Association
of Dental Examiners in 1978, and was named the
National Dentist Citizen of the Year in 1980.
He was a life member of the international
Dr. Leo V. Bongers
in 1948 when he was licensed as a dentist in
the state of Kansas.
(Photo Courtesy of
the Kansas Dental Board) |
Pierre Fauchard Academy,
and president of this honorary organization in 1981.
He was chairman of the Commission on National Boards of the American
Dental Association. He was a founding father of the Central Regional Dental
Testing Service, a pioneering program which standardized and consolidated
testing for dentists in a 12 state region.
Dr. Bongers was a life member of the American Dental Association and the
International College of Dentists.
In 1980, he received the Alumni of Merit award from Creighton University.
Since his college years, he was a life member of the Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor
Society, and Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the National Honorary Dental Society.
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Dr. Bongers was a life member
and a Past State Deputy (1966-1968), of the Kansas
Knights of Columbus.
During his tenure, programs initiated
included the annual Tootsie Roll benefit drive and
the Oratorical Scholarship Program for high school
students.
He was a former president and trustee of the
Knights of Columbus Charities Aid Foundation.
Leo was a US Army veteran of
WWII and life member of American Legion Post #302,
Hanover,
KS.
Dr. Bongers served locally as president of
the Hanover Chamber of Commerce.
He also served on the Hanover City Council.
Kansas Governor Robert Docking proclaimed
June, 6 1968 as "Dr. Leo Bongers Appreciation Day".
Governor J. James Exon named him an admiral
in the Nebraska Navy.
His passions were family,
dentistry, and his Catholic faith.
His work with dental organizations and the
Knights of Columbus required him to travel
extensively throughout the United States and to many parts of the world,
including
Western Europe,
Russia and
Japan.
He enjoyed travel, especially the
opportunities to meet people.
Leo was well known for inviting his
colleagues at meetings to attend Mass with him.
He loved to spend time with family,
encouraging large gatherings at holidays and family
reunions.
He also enjoyed time with family watching
sports or music programs.
He was preceded in death by:
his wife, Margaret, in 2005; an infant son,
Gregory Vincent; his parents Leo and Kathryn;
sisters Mary Agnes Dearing, Mary Katherine Tenborg,
and Margaret Ann Senn; and a daughter in-law, Mary
Ann Schuessler Bongers.
Survivors are sons:
Barry Bongers (Mary), San Diego, CA,
Dennis Bongers, Flower Mound, TX, James Bongers
(Linda), Manhattan, KS;
daughters:
Mary Margaret Medlin (Jack), Gladstone, MO,
Teresa Beaufait (Christopher),
Omaha, NE, Patricia Parsons (Timothy), Manhattan,
KS;
grandchildren:
Michael
Bongers, Gregory Bongers,
Brian
Bongers,
Brenda
Nichols, Jessica Moore, Peter Bongers,
Kathryn
Cooney,
Ann Marie
Bongers, Andrew Medlin, Alyssa Parsons, MaryPat
Beaufait, Emily Parsons, and Gregory Beaufait;
13 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be on Friday,
October 15, 2010 from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the
Hanover Mortuary.
A Rosary will be recited at
St. John's Catholic Church in
Hanover,
Kansas
on Saturday, October 16, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. followed
by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m.
The
family suggests memorials to the
St. John's Catholic Church
and School or the Knights of Columbus Charities Aid
Foundation. |
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