Samuel C. Bontrager

Samuel C. Bontrager, 69 of Purdin, MO, passed away at 2:20 PM on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at Springfield Memorial Hospital in Springfield, IL.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at Penn Station, 122 East Progress, IL in Arthur, IL. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at Penn Station. Pastor Lonnie Gingerich will officiate. Burial will follow in the Arthur Cemetery. The Edwards Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.

Sam was born on March 8, 1955, in Tuscola, IL. He was a son of Chris N. and Lizzia Ann (Miller) Bontrager. He married Pamela Mae Binion on February 24, 1978, in Arthur, IL. She passed away on February 16, 2018.

He is survived by two children, Christopher Wayne Bontrager and his wife Kristen of Decatur, IL, and Alissa Mae Bontrager of Purdin, MO; eight grandchildren, Tyler, Breanna, Brooklyn, Elayna, Makayla and her husband Dalton, Bryson, Gracie, and Nathan; five great grandchildren, Xander, Ryder, Danger, Eleanor, and Tatum; seven siblings, Liz Diener of Humboldt, IL, Verna Bontrager of Sarasota, FL, Mary Chupp and husband Lewis of Tuscola, IL, William Bontrager and wife Fannie of Millersburg, OH, Irvin Bontrager and wife Mary of Middlebury, IN, Clara Herschberger of Arcola, IL, Katie Helmuth of Glen Flora, WI, one sister-in-law Alma Schweitzer of Goshen, IN and one brother-in-law Oba Herschberger and his wife Barbara of Sullivan, IL. He is also survived by his wife’s family Marsha Hayse, Debbie Kingery and her husband Andy, and Angie Utsler and her husband Jeff as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Pamela, two daughters, Misty Lynn and Nichole Ann; eleven siblings, Ida Otto and husband Otis, Edna Miller and husband Andy, Carrie Herschberger and husband Levi, Fannie Schrock and husband Jake, Melvin Bontrager and wife Laura, Levi Bontrager, Eli Bontrager and wife Katie, Anna Bontrager, Lorene Herschberger, Raymond Bontrager and wife Ella, and Mattie Miller and her husband Henry, brothers-in-law, Joe M Diener, Manassas Bontrager Jr., Glenn Helmuth, and Nelson Herschberger. He was also preceded in death by his in-laws, Wilma, and Billy Binion, and two brothers-in-law from his wife’s family, Bobby Binion and his wife Lynda and Ronnie “Craze” Hayse.

Sam worked in the Drywall Industry for many years. He loved music. He played guitar in several bands, “Prairie Rebels,” and “Bontrager Strong Band,” just to name a couple. He also enjoyed camping, and you always saw him with his two dogs, Ashes and Missy, wherever he went they went. Sam’s favorite thing to do was simply spend time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to his family.