Obituary - Mary Edith (Dahlik) Bond - Class of 1921

MADISON - Mary Edith (Dahlk) Bond died peacefully on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2004, at the Meriter Health Care Center. She was born on Oct. 12, 1903, to John B. and Edith (Bryan) Dahlk, on the family farm in Middleton Township. The family moved to Madison in 1920. Mary graduated from Madison High School in 1921. She then attended Madison Business College and UW-Madison where she studied nursing until 1928. Mary worked for the state as a stenographer and bookkeeper, but often shared her stories of visiting new mothers in the Madison community, on behalf of the Public Health Department, encouraging them to immunize their children and facilitating ways to get them into the health care system. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church, Madison, serving faithfully in the Women's Society and assumed numerous leadership responsibilities in the Sunday school programs. In 1997, Mary was happy to attend and participate in the church's sesquicentennial (150th) celebration as one of their oldest church members. She was also proud of her Dahlk family heritage and had a key interest in the Dahlk family history. The Dahlk descendents preserved their family unity by holding a family reunion picnic every summer, beginning in 1938, and in 1988, received a certificate of commendation from the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society on the occasion of this 50th year celebration. Mary married John C. Bond on June 24, 1930, in Madison, and they had a daughter, Mary Edith. Mary's family and friends had a wonderful time celebrating her 100th birthday, and at that time Mary commented on all she had experienced in those 100 years, the sinking of the Titanic, landing a man on the moon and the Internet. Survivors include her grandchildren, Debbie Johnson (Jeff Schwandt) of Madison, David (Lisa) Johnson and Erik Johnson (Rebecca Tyler), both of Massachusetts; a nephew and niece, Bill (Kathy) Dahlk and J. Elizabeth Dahlk, both of Milwaukee; and numerous other cousins; friends; and relatives. She is preceded in death by her parents; brother, John G. Dahlk; husband, John C. Bond; daughter, Mary Johnson; and son-in-law, David A. Johnson. Services will be held on Friday, Sept. 10, 2004, at 11 a.m. at the FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, 518 N. Franklin Ave., with the Rev. Mark Clinger presiding. Burial will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church or to a charity of one's choice. The family wishes to thank Dr. Mark Davis and his nurse, Rhonda, Gail Gaustad, geriatric nurse practitioner, Lois Vanblaricom (Alterra Wynwood) and the entire staff at Meriter Terraces Assisted Living and the Meriter Health Care Center for all their kindnesses and care over these many years. Cress Funeral & Cremation Services 3610 Speedway Road (608) 238-3434

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on September 9, 2004