BONGARD, Eleanor Mae Feb. 2, 1919 - Jan. 3, 2007 Eleanor Mae Bongard, age 87, of Alma, Michigan, passed away Wednesday, January 3, 2007 at Tendercare of Portage, MI. Eleanor was born February 2, 1919 in Alma, MI, the daughter of Merritt and Mabel (Caswell) Root. She married Leroy Bongard on September 24, 1938. Eleanor lived in the same house in Alma for over 80 years. She retired from Oxford Automotive after 40 years of service in the press room and went on to bus and set tables at the Alma Elks Lodge. She was a member of the East Superior Christian Church and later attended the New Life Christian Fellowship in Mt. Pleasant. She was also a member of the Alma Elks Lodge where she was a past president of the Daisy Chain, the Eagles, Moose Lodge, Pythian Sisters where she had been a member for 70 years and had served as Grand Chief and Supreme Representative of Michigan and was a member of the VFW Women's Auxiliary. Eleanor is survived by a son, Rev. Merritt (Lois) Bongard of Ludington, MI, and a daughter Becky (Doug) Skidmore of Portage, MI; 8 grandchildren; 12 great- grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving is one brother, Max (Alma) Root of Elm Hall, MI and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leroy, on June 7, 1987; daughter, Charlene Bongard; and a brother, Elmer Root. Funeral Services will be held Monday, January 8, 2007 at 1 p.m. at Lux-Moody-Wolfel Funeral Home, Alma , with her son Rev. Merritt Bongard, officiating. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pythian Sisters, c/o Becky Skidmore, 7226 Wrenbury, Portage, MI 49024 or any of the Alma Elks Lodge Charities.