Amos was born on August 31, 1918 to Menno JS and Fannie (Yoder) Bontrager near Burr Oak, Michigan in an Old Order Amish Home. He spent most of his youth in Buchanan County Iowa and Washington County Iowa, where he completed the 8th grade. He then was helping his father run the home farm until he was 21. Then Amos traveled all over the United States chauffeuring Amish people. From this experience he would always love heading down the road.


In 1941 Amos joined the Army Air Corps and served in the Philippians and Guadalcanal with a Navy Sea Bee Unit. After the war was over he returned to the Kalona area and in 1947 married Margaret (Rhodes) Bontrager and to this union 5 children were born; Judy, Warren Joe, Carol, Ronald and Patty. He earned his pilots license and with his partner, Eldon Miller, he bought a plane and did crop dusting and farming. But his first love would still be driving, so he started heading down the road in gas transports as a Professional Driver for Ruan and Skelly. His children, at one time or another all enjoyed riding along with him. Amos taught them how to be safe and courteous drivers just like him and even taught and drove trucks with his sons and several family friends.


The family moved to the west side of Colorado Springs in the early 1960s. Amos served as PTA president of Whittier Elementary School for several years and together with Margaret, was always active in the childrens scouting and sports activities. He especially loved to take his kids and grandkids camping, fishing and swimming and in the winters tobogganing. For several years he was a Legion of Leaders salesman for Daniels Chevrolet and it was there that he earned the nickname Bonny. He held office at the BPOE 309, Optimist Club and is a lifetime member of Colorado Springs Post 5 American Legion. He later returned to his love of driving a truck for Rocky Mountain Paving, and then he bought his own tractor and drove for Maher Brothers Mayflower and then Tropicana out of Bradenton, Florida where he retired at the age of 72 after millions of miles of safe driving under his belt.. He lived there until he became ill and then made his home with his son Warren in Limon, Colorado.


Amos was a self educated man through his travels and love for reading, but his regret in life was that he never had the opportunity to finish school, so at the age of 73 he completed his GED as the top student..


Amos leaves to mourn his passing Judy (Lyle) Beeson of Stratton, Colorado, Warren (Ellie) Bontrager of Limon, Colorado, Carol Rusk of Colorado Springs, Ron ( Bev) Bontrager of Lubbock, Texas and Patty VanTassel of Elbert, Colorado. Brothers Perry (Mabel) Bontrager, Kalona and Joe (Betty) Bontrager, Fresno, California. Sisters Lovina M Miller, Kalona, Suvilla (Joseph) Hershberger, Kalona, Edna M Yoder, Iowa City and Esther M. Tate, Iowa City. Nineteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.


Amos was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Clarence.


Amos had accepted the Lord as his savior. He peacefully passed into glory on July 8, 2008 surrounded by loved ones. Celebration of his Life Service was held at 1:30 PM on Saturday July 12, at the First United Methodist Church in Limon, Colorado with burial following at the Pershing cemetery in Limon.