Arthur Camiel Bokhart

Arthur Camiel Bokhart passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, at his home in Mishawaka, with immediate family at his side. He was the son of Henry and Mary Bokhart (Meuninick) and born in Mishawaka on May 18, 1925. His four siblings include brother George (deceased) and sisters Eleanor Trippel (deceased), Catherine DeVreese of Valparaiso, and MaryAnn Lehner of Granger. He married Shirley M. Bokhart (Gordon) on February 25, 1950, and together they are loved by five children and their spouses including Jackie McKew (Bokhart) of Temecula, Calif., Gordon and Beth Bokhart of Ft. Wayne, Tom Bokhart of Oxnard, Calif., Lora Smith (Bokhart) and Kip Smith of Canton, Ohio, and Chris and Cindy Bokhart of Downers Grove, Ill., He was adored by eight grandchildren (David Bokhart, Jason McKew, Amanda Stevenson, Nicholas Bokhart, Kristen Horton, Brian Bokhart, Kimberly Kramer, and Rachel Mayer) and 16 great grandchildren (Alex Simerman, Paxton Simerman, Jaxon Simerman, Jennifer Stevenson, Moses Stevenson, Megan Stevenson, Noelle Mayer, Elise Mayer, Brady Horton, Travis Mayer, Xavery Bokhart, Bexleigh Bokhart, Evelyn Kramer, Kinsie Bokhart, Conner Horton, and Madeline Horton) with two more expected within the coming year.

A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he served in World War II in Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific between 1943 and 1946 after graduating from Mishawaka High School in 1943. He spent his career at Dodge Manufacturing in Mishawaka as a tool and die maker. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mishawaka.

Art shared a great love of woodworking, fishing, playing cards, and traveling with his family and friends. All of his family members have lived in, played with, or set before something he crafted expertly by hand. For his 80th birthday in 2005, he and his children traveled to Belgium to see his family homeland. Art enjoyed fishing trips with close friends and even went to Alaska, where he did indeed catch “the big one.” He and Shirley enjoyed visiting children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren around the United States and hosting family gatherings, where no one ever left hungry. He always greeted friends and family with a warm embrace and kiss, never taking his time together with anyone for granted. Ever generous, he battled tirelessly for restaurant checks and shared countless $20 bills along the way. Even to his final days he was the ultimate example of humility, faith, work ethic, charity, grace, love, and selflessness.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, September 17, at 11 am in St. Joseph Catholic Church, 225 S. Mill Street, Mishawaka, with Rev. Christopher Lapp officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at South Union Cemetery, near Nappanee.

Friends may spend time with Art’s family Friday, September 16, from 5 - 8 pm in Goethals & Wells Funeral Home, 503 W. 3rd Street, Mishawaka. The Rosary will be prayed at 7:30 pm.

Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph Catholic Church.