John Daniel Bonga – Duquesne
John Daniel Bonga
Duquesne
John Daniel Bonga of Duquesne, a resident of Juniper Village in Forest Hills, age 98, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. John was the first American child born to Andrew and Anna Rinyik on Dec. 30, 1921 in Rankin. He was the beloved husband of the late Mildred Tankosic Bonga and loving father of Dan (Nancy) Bonga, David (Monika) Bonga and Nikki (Tom) Stoner. He was dearest grandfather (Pap Pap) of Dr. Lily Bonga and Jonathan Bonga; Nathan Stoner and Sally (Stephen) Paul; and the late Amanda Lyn Bonga; and proud great-grandfather of McCarthy Rae Poljak and Everett Paul. John also was the beloved fiancé of Magdalene “Madge” Seman. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Andrew Jr. and George Bonga; and his sister, Irene Mandela. John was a 44-year employee of Westinghouse in East Pittsburgh. Although he rarely spoke of his military service, John proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II as a sergeant with the 338th Infantry Regiment combat Team in North Africa and Italy. He was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in ground combat. John was a lifetime member of St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church in Rankin and was a member of the White Oak American Legion. Friends are welcome from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21 at PATRICK T. LANIGAN FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY INC., 700 Linden Ave. at Cable; East Pittsburgh, 412-824-8800, where a Parastas will be prayed at 6 p.m. Tuesday. John’s funeral service will be in the funeral home at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22. John will be laid to rest with military honors in McKeesport-Versailles Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to St. Michael Orthodox Church, 146 Third St., Rankin, PA 15104 or the Wounded Warrior Project, 600 River Ave., Suite 400, Pgh., Pa. 15212 or www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
