William Bosworth Bonczar

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William Bosworth Bonczar

July 30, 1931 ~ July 21, 2021

Gunnery Sergeant William Bosworth Bonczar, 89, died of natural causes in his home in Salt Lake City surrounded by family on July 21, 2021.

William was born on July 30, 1931 in Salt Lake City to his parents Ida and Stanley Bonczar. When he was 18, William decided he wanted to join the Marines and was stationed in Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California. William would go on to serve in the Korean War with a couple of his buddies from high school and then to his four tours in Vietnam later on.  William was a very devoted Marine, and he was very proud to have served and protected his country.  

Later, after his tours, he was honorably discharged, only to turn right around and re-enlist in the Marine reserves until his retirement fully from service in October 1985. He was a proud career military veteran.  

William is survived by his wife of 34 wonderful years, Lucille, and stepdaughter Laura. He also had two loving step-grandchildren, Suttesian and Tabatha; and one step great-grandson, Bryenden.

William was a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam wars. For his service, he earned Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He served honorably in the Marines, achieving the final rank of gunnery sergeant.

When William retired from the Marines, he still worked up until the age 70 doing various jobs with security detail with both the federal government and the State of Utah.  When he wasn't working he was very keen on fitness and was known to always go running even into his mid-80s. Early on he enjoyed the outdoors and loved to go hunting with his friends and family.  His biggest love, though, was his wife and the time they got to spend together. He treated her as his queen when they were first courting by giving her one to three dozen long-stemmed red roses each weekend for their dates. Then, later, "catching her" by getting married on December 26, 1986. He worshiped her and she, him. As many that knew of their relationship, it was a match made in heaven.

A funeral Mass was celebrated July 27, 2021 at Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Interment, Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

Semper Fidelis, Marine, and may you proudly guard the streets of heaven.