Aug. 12, 1932 — June 17, 2016

Bernard “Butch” G. Bournay, 83, of Bangor passed away Friday, June 17, 2016, at Rose Arbor Hospice Residence in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

He was born Aug. 12, 1932, in Hammond, Indiana to Elizabeth Raab and Jacob Bournay. After attending Dowagiac High School, he served his country in the Korean War, a mortar man in the 179th Infantry Regiment, of the 45th Infantry Division. He was awarded a Combat Infantryman’s badge and a Bronze Star for his action in the Korean War.  After receiving an Honorable Discharge, he enrolled in and graduated from Ferris State Institute School of Pharmacy earning Rho Chi honor. His passion for his profession brought him to purchase Swanstra Drug Store in downtown Bangor from 1969 to 2000.

In addition to being a loving father and devoted husband and pharmacist, Butch enjoyed fishing, hunting and tennis in his younger years and later bowling and golfing. He loved listening to live music and polka dancing with his wife.  He was a self-made man, a “Jack of All Trades,” doing everything himself whether building shelves for the pharmacy, fixing his wife’s car or building an addition on his home.

His family and friends were of utmost importance to him. In his years to retirement, Butch spent his time visiting his grandchildren in Boston and Seattle.

He leaves behind his wife of 56 years Genevieve (Zawisza) Bournay, his three children, Michelle, David and Anne, as well as his five grandchildren, Rachelle, Gabrielle, Rebecca and Matthew (Bower) and Juliette (Bournay).

He is survived by his sister Betty (Alfred) Tomczak of Dowagiac, brothers James (Loretta) of La Porte, Indiana, Joseph (Wanda) of Bangor, George of Dowagiac and sisters-in-law Yvonne (Fred) Bournay of Dowagiac and Marion (Conrad) Bournay of Jackson.

The Funeral Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bangor, at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 23, preceded by a visitation starting at 9:30 a.m.  Memorial donations may be made to St. Vincent de Paul of Bangor or the Salvation Army.  Arrangements entrusted to the Bangor Chapel, D. L. Miller Funeral Home. www.dlmillerfuneralhome.com