Paul Bondo, 69, passed away at home on July 10, 2015. Born Aug. 4, 1945, to Elmer and Ingrid (Beck) Bondo. Paul grew up on a farm near Underwood, Iowa. He felt fortunate working alongside his father; learning the values and skills which shaped his character.

Paul graduated from Underwood High School, earned a B.S. degree at Dana College (Blair, NE) and received a M.S. degree in analytical chemistry from the University of Nebraska (Lincoln). Paul worked 15 years as a clinical research chemist at the South Bend Medical Foundation where he met Gail Papach whom he married on Sept. 14, 1974. In 1986, Paul was hired as the first full-time employee at Omicron Biochemicals, Inc. (South Bend). Working as a chemist/operations manager for 22-1/2 years, he felt proud knowing he made a significant contribution to the success and growth of the company.

Diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma at age 46, Paul was truly blessed in living 23 years before the illness progressed to acute myeloid leukemia. His survival was attributed to the care he received at Michiana Hematology Oncology, new cancer treatments, and a stem cell transplant in 2008. Paul was credited for his long survival by his good eating habits, hygiene, daily calisthenics, and running outdoors. He worked at Omicron until he retired in 2009, then concentrated on his interests in home and yard maintenance projects and watching birds come to our feeders. Always having a positive attitude, he would say, "I feel fine, I never get sick, I just have cancer."

Paul is survived by his wife, Gail, of 40 years and his three children: Eric, Kristin, and Mark (Samantha). Also surviving are sisters: Elaine (Mark) Hoyer of Blair, NE and Phyllis (Milo) Shavlik of North Platte, NE; 9 nieces and 4 nephews.

Cremation will take place and a portion of Paul’s ashes will be laid to rest in St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery amongst generations of Danish relatives who were members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church near the family farm.

The family will have a gathering of friends and neighbors to join them to celebrate Paul’s life on Tuesday, July 21, 11:00AM at St. Paul's Lutheran, (Boomer Township), Neola, Iowa. Contributions in memory of Paul may be made to Center for Hospice Care, MDS Foundation and/or Songbirds of Northern Indiana (non-profit songbird rehabilitation). ~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~