Brunswick – Alden Joseph Bonang, 89, died Monday, October 5, 2015 at Mid Coast Senior Health Center in Brunswick.  He was born on May 18, 1926 in Brunswick, the son of Frederick and Marie Theriault Bonang.

Alden attended St. John’s School and Brunswick High School in the class of 1946.  He was called to the Air Force, where he worked on B17 and B25 airplanes, during the end of WWII.  He returned to graduate high school in 1947.

Radios became his favorite pastime and he became an amateur radio operator with the handle of KICAH and served as a civil defense radio operator.  He continued throughout his life with building antenna towers around his home and building electronic items like radios and receivers.

He worked as a service manager at the Brunswick Ford Garage for over 20 years and then went back to college for his teaching certificate and taught the automotive trade at Morse High school in Bath for 17 years, retiring in 1986.

Alden was a jack of all trades, building a house for his family, a summer cottage in St. Albans, a camping trailer for family summer fun and assisted building his son’s house.  When his son’s needed their first automobiles, he worked on and presented each with a 1948 ford pickup.  He could repair anything of wood, metal, electronics and engines.

On May 31, 1948 he married Emelda M. Landglais and began their life together.  Alden and his wife of 67 years, Mel, began construction of Melden Drive in Brunswick and it is home to many neighbors today.  They also traveled to many places around the United States, Canada, Mexico and Bermuda.  They wintered in Palm Bay, Florida for 10 years with his brother and sister-in-law, Roy & Jeanne Rochon, often their traveling companions. 

Alden taught his family life lessons to be endeared spouses and parents to their own families.

He is predeceased by his parents, 3 sisters, Melba and Annette Bonang of Brunswick and Theodora Seymour of Arlington, VA and also his beloved grandson, Dane Bonang of Wiscasset. 

He is survived by his wife Emelda Langlais Bonang; 3 sons, Paul Bonang and his wife Connie Byras of Topsham, Richard Bonang of Topsham and Allan Bonang and his wife Mary Beth of Wiscasset; a daughter, Barbara Bonang and her husband Bo Hutchins of Topsham; Alden was also blessed with the joy and love of 9 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.  He is also survived by 2 brothers, Raymond Bonang of Saco and Claude Bonang and his wife Ann of Brunswick; 3 sisters, Ella Caron of Lewiston, Louise Marchildon and her husband Don and Lorraine Gingras and her husband Adolph both of Manchester; and a number of nieces and nephews

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, October 8, 2015 from 6:00 – 8:00pm at the Demers-Desmond Funeral Home, 34 Cushing Street, Brunswick.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated on Friday, October 9, 2015 at 10:00am at All Saints Parish, St. John the Baptist Church, Pleasant Street, Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to St. John’s School, 39 Pleasant St., Brunswick.

To share your thoughts and condolences with the family, please visit www.desmondfuneralhomes.com