From the Archives of the Butler Eagle: Published July 5, 2005 *Meredith M. Bonyak* Meredith M. "Mike" Bonyak, 70, of Butler died Saturday afternoon at Butler Memorial Hospital after a long illness. Born in Butler, April 18, 1935, he was a son of Mary Stelbotsky Bonyak Hudak and the late Andrew J. Bonyak. He retired from the slab conditioning section at Armco-Butler Works in 1995 after 36 years; and from 1999 to this year, he was a security officer at Butler Memorial Hospital for Point Security Co. Mr. Bonyak was a member of St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church. During the Korean War, he was a sergeant in the Marine Corps and has been active locally in veterans' groups, especially Marine Corps veterans' activities. He was a member of the American Legion Butler Post 117. He was a member and past commandant of Bantam Marine Detachment 743 of the Marine Corps League in Butler, where he served in all of the officer positions in the league. He also was commander of their color guard for parades, funerals and ceremonies. He received national recognition as the historian of the detachment, receiving a third place Pennsylvania state award and the first place National award for their division at the 58th Annual Convention held in Williamsport, Lycoming County, in 2003. He was also named a "Devil Dog," which is the Marine Corps League Honor Society. On Nov. 5, 1994, he was honored with the award of "Marine of the Year" by the Marine Corps League. Surviving are his wife, Marlene Lauteria Bonyak, whom he married May 2, 1959; a son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Rebecca Bonyak of Butler; a daughter and son-in-law, Susan and David P. "Pat" Schmeider of Butler; his mother of Sun Lakes, Ariz.; two brothers, Vincent E. Bonyak of Meridian and Ronald Bonyak and his wife, Carol, of Sun Lakes; two sisters, Mrs. Bruce (Cheryl) Eldredge and Bernadette Bonyak, both of Butler; and a half brother, Leonard Bonyak of Garfield Heights, Ohio. Also surviving are three grandchildren, Dianna, David and Robin Schmeider, all of Butler; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother. BONYAK - Friends of Meredith M. "Mike" Bonyak, who died Saturday, July 2, 2005, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME, 201 E. Cunningham St. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Michael Roman Catholic Church, 432 Center Ave. The Rev. James Dolan will officiate. Burial will be at St. Michael Parish Cemetery. The Bereavement Committee of St. Michael will conduct a parish vigil service at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. The Bantam Marine Corps Detachment will conduct a memorial service at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home and will accord military honors at the cemetery service on Thursday morning. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations should be made to a charity of the donor's choice. Please visit the funeral home Web site at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.