Obituary of John R Bankert

John R. Bankert, 82, of Bailey Lake Rd, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Monday, December 3, 2012 at Harding Nursing Home. He was born in Utica on May 15, 1930, a son of the late Mary Roach and Norbert Frank Bankert. He graduated from Utica Free Academy with the Class of 1949 and received his associate's degree in 1951 from NY State Technical Institute at Delhi. He served in the Korean Campaign with the US Army. John served in the 424th Field Artillery Battalion and attained the rank of Sergeant First Class. He was Chief of Section for an 18-man gun crew, utilizing the 8" Howitzer and the Battery C Gun #4. He was honorably discharged in 1953. After his military service, he completed a four year apprenticeship and worked at the mason trades with Local #19 in Utica, NY. He entered state service and worked for the NYS Office of General Services, Design & Construction Group until his retirement in 1990. John lived in the Waterville area since 1971 when he developed property on Mt. Hunger for his home. He took great pride in the houses he built. He was an avid skier for many years and loved building projects. He enjoyed raising sheep and gardening and in recent years found pleasure at his camp on Union Falls Pond in the Adirondack Mountains. He also loved his Siamese cat Malcolm. He leaves his wife, of 37 years, Mildred Whitehill Bankert and their three children, Jill-Anne Bonikowski, Robert E. and his wife Cheryl Lachmann and William G. and his wife Cyndee Lachmann; six grandchildren, William G. Lachmann Jr, Tiernan J. Lachmann, John R. Lachmann, Luke A. Lachmann, Kyla R. Bonikowski and Olivia L. Bonikowski; his brother, William S. Bankert and his wife Phyllis; brothers-in-law, William and his wife Jenifer Whitehill, Paul Carey and several beloved nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, sister Anne Bankert Carey and brother and sister-in-law, Norbert and Catherine "Tudi" Bankert. A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 11am at St. Bernard's Church, Waterville, NY. A reception will be held in the church hall following Mass. There will be no public calling hours. Interment will be at the family's convenience. Arrangements by Owens-Pavlot & Rogers Funeral Service, Inc, Clinton.