Obituary for Thomas W. Bonekemper, M.D., J.D.
Thomas W. Bonekemper, M.D., J.D., 79, formerly of Milford Twp., passed away after a lengthy and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer on June 28, 2022 in Sellersville. The loving husband of Janet Jones Bonekemper for 52 years, he was born in Lansdale to the late H. George III and E. Pearl (Bomboy) Bonekemper on July 16, 1942.
Tom was a member of the North Penn High School Class of 1960 and a graduate of Kutztown University and Hahnemann School of Medicine . He completed his Internship at Hahnemann and Internal Medicine residency at St. Luke’s Hospital, Bethlehem.
He was on the staffs of Quakertown and Grand View Hospitals while serving the Upper Perkiomen Valley in private practice from 1972-1976. He returned to Hahnemann and served as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine from 1976-1979. His desire to help veterans led him to become the Chief Medical Officer of the VA Outpatient Clinic in Allentown where he served for 20 years before retirement for health issues in 1999.
Owing to his interest in medical/legal issues, Tom pursued a law degree at Southland University in 1985. He also enjoyed co-authoring Health and Safety for You, 5th edition in 1980 which received national recognition as the first high school textbook to stress prevention.
Tom served in the Air National Guard from 1970-1976. He was an active member of Trinity Great Swamp UCC in Spinnerstown.
Tom’s hobbies included breeding and racing Standardbred horses, collecting Pennsylvania color appliqued soda bottles and cheering for the Penn State Nittany Lions, Phillies and Eagles. His biggest passion was promoting amateur baseball. In 1984 Tom and two friends brought the Allentown Wings franchise to Quakertown as the Quakertown Blazers, currently in its 38th season. (quakertownblazers.com) He was active in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League serving as its president from 1994 until 2020 when the League conferred the honor of President Emeritus. Over the years Tom received many awards nationally for his outstanding contributions and service to baseball.
Survivors: Son Brian of Milford Twp., grandson Robert Brandon Hoffman, Quakertown and his fiancé Kendra Wychakinas, twin brother H. George III of Pennsburg and his companion Joanne Hersh, brother Richard of Temple Hills, MD, sister Lonna Donaher of Lansdale and her husband Ed, and sister-in-law Barbara Wiggin of Mechanicsburg and her husband Tim. Many cousins, five nieces and nephews and ten great nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life service for Thomas W. Bonekemper, MD will be held at 11 AM on Wednesday, August 3 at the Community at Rockhill, 3250 State Rd., Sellersville, PA. Family and friends my attend a visitation from 10 to 11 AM prior to the service. Arrangements are by the Mann-Slonaker Funeral Home in East Greenville, Online condolences may be offered at www.mannslonakerfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grand View Health Foundation, 700 Lawn Ave., Sellersville, PA 18960 or to Trinity Great Swamp UCC – Mission Outreach Fund, P.O. Box 494, Spinnerstown, PA 18968.
Tom was a member of the North Penn High School Class of 1960 and a graduate of Kutztown University and Hahnemann School of Medicine . He completed his Internship at Hahnemann and Internal Medicine residency at St. Luke’s Hospital, Bethlehem.
He was on the staffs of Quakertown and Grand View Hospitals while serving the Upper Perkiomen Valley in private practice from 1972-1976. He returned to Hahnemann and served as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine from 1976-1979. His desire to help veterans led him to become the Chief Medical Officer of the VA Outpatient Clinic in Allentown where he served for 20 years before retirement for health issues in 1999.
Owing to his interest in medical/legal issues, Tom pursued a law degree at Southland University in 1985. He also enjoyed co-authoring Health and Safety for You, 5th edition in 1980 which received national recognition as the first high school textbook to stress prevention.
Tom served in the Air National Guard from 1970-1976. He was an active member of Trinity Great Swamp UCC in Spinnerstown.
Tom’s hobbies included breeding and racing Standardbred horses, collecting Pennsylvania color appliqued soda bottles and cheering for the Penn State Nittany Lions, Phillies and Eagles. His biggest passion was promoting amateur baseball. In 1984 Tom and two friends brought the Allentown Wings franchise to Quakertown as the Quakertown Blazers, currently in its 38th season. (quakertownblazers.com) He was active in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League serving as its president from 1994 until 2020 when the League conferred the honor of President Emeritus. Over the years Tom received many awards nationally for his outstanding contributions and service to baseball.
Survivors: Son Brian of Milford Twp., grandson Robert Brandon Hoffman, Quakertown and his fiancé Kendra Wychakinas, twin brother H. George III of Pennsburg and his companion Joanne Hersh, brother Richard of Temple Hills, MD, sister Lonna Donaher of Lansdale and her husband Ed, and sister-in-law Barbara Wiggin of Mechanicsburg and her husband Tim. Many cousins, five nieces and nephews and ten great nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life service for Thomas W. Bonekemper, MD will be held at 11 AM on Wednesday, August 3 at the Community at Rockhill, 3250 State Rd., Sellersville, PA. Family and friends my attend a visitation from 10 to 11 AM prior to the service. Arrangements are by the Mann-Slonaker Funeral Home in East Greenville, Online condolences may be offered at www.mannslonakerfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grand View Health Foundation, 700 Lawn Ave., Sellersville, PA 18960 or to Trinity Great Swamp UCC – Mission Outreach Fund, P.O. Box 494, Spinnerstown, PA 18968.