Peter R. Bonk

Peter Russell Bonk, 90, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2025, at the Baptist Home in Rhinebeck with his wife close beside him.

Pete was born on Long Island on New Years Eve to Russ and Cecelia Bonk. His lifelong catch phrase was always “My birthday is always this year!”. The youngest of 6 kids, Pete grew to love all the spoiling he received as he went through the years – first from his mother and sisters, then from the one and only love of his life, Edna Carolyn Lauda, whom he married on May 25, 1957. Pete and Edna had 3 children, Elaine, Russ, and Laura.

Pete served his country proudly in the United States Army for 2 years active, 2 years active reserve, and 2 years inactive reserve. Pete went on to have an extremely busy life in banking with Chase Manhattan Bank and then retiring from Marine Midland Bank. After Banking, Pete went on to become an owner/builder of Freedom Wheels Roller Rink in LaGrange, NY then settled into a career in politics, serving as a 24-year Councilman and Town Supervisor in Union Vale, NY.

Pete had many hobbies though life, including as a skilled stone mason and a lover of Classic Packards, having owned several full sized and hundreds of scale model sized examples of them from the first in the early 1900s to the last one in 1958.

Pete’s love of designing and building ho-scale model buildings seemed fitting to compliment his skills in architecture and constructions. Love and companionship with family and friends made Pete happiest and shared almost 7 decades with his sweetheart Edna topped it all off!

Pete was predeceased by his mom, dad, siblings, and his daughter Elaine as well as sister-in-law Katherine Lauda.

He is survived by his wife Edna, son Russell (Stephanie), daughter Laura (Tony) Domenico, 8 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren (with another on the way), a brother-in-law Robert Lauda, a sister-in-law Susan (Jeff) Licht, and many other loving family members as well as friends.

There are no calling hours.

A Celebration of Life will be held in warmer weather and burial will be held at Clove Cemetery at a later date.

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