Vernon G. "Vern" Bonar

STONEHAM, Maine - Vernon G. "Vern" Bonar, 49, of Stoneham, Maine, died unexpectedly, Tuesday, October 11, 2016, at his beloved home in Stoneham. Vern was born on August 4, 1967, in Portsmouth, N.H., a son of, Gale Bonar and Linda (Davis) Coggeshall. He attended Milton, N.H., schools and went on to attend New Hampshire Technical Institute.

For several years in southern New Hampshire, Vern worked at various businesses in shipping and receiving. He also worked as an EMT and firefighter in Farmington, N.H., and most recently with the Stoneham Rescue.

Vern moved to Stoneham, Maine in 2014 after purchasing an old farmhouse in town. That home has been a labor of love for he and his fiancé, Sarah from refurbishing the interior to bringing back gardens and animals to the property.

Although having congenital heart issues since birth, it didn't keep Vern from doing what he loved, especially in the outdoors. He enjoyed the work on the farm, helping neighbors and friends when he could, and hiking, which he spent time enjoying during his last days having hiked two 4,000 foot peaks.

Vern is survived by his mother, Linda Coggeshall of North Conway, N.H.; his fiancé, Sarah Merriam of Stoneham, Maine; his daughters, Bridgett Bonar of Farmington, N.H., Brooke Bonar of Stoneham, Maine and Natalie Merriam of Stoneham, Maine; his "mother-in-law," Kathleen Tufts and her husband, Stephen of Rochester, N.H.; his "father-in-law," Thomas Merriam and his wife, Debbie Angelico of Portsmouth, N.H.; siblings, Marie Parent of Springvale, Maine, Cheri Collins and her husband, Kenneth of Winnsboro, S.C., Walter Coggeshall and his wife, Heather of Hollis, Maine, Scott Bonar and his wife, Veronica of Chillicothe, O.H., Mark Bonar of Chillicothe, O.H., and J. Michael Bonar and his wife, Crystal of Rochester, N.H.; several nieces and nephews including PVT 2 Anthony Parent, currently at the Naval Construction Battalion in Gulfport, Miss. He was predeceased by his father, Gale Bonar.

SERVICES: Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Sunday, October 16, 2016, at the Wood Funeral Home, 9 Warren St., Fryeburg. Family and friends are invited to a time of visitation one hour prior to the service from 10-11 a.m. Private family interment will be at the Hillside Cemetery in Stoneham, Maine. Gifts in lieu of flowers may be given in Vern's memory to the Stoneham Rescue, P.O. Box 42, Stoneham, Maine, 04231. Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.woodfuneralhome.org.