Niel Lonkar

A service to honor the life of Cornelius “Niel” Lee Lonkar will be held on Thursday, December 8, 2022 at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Memory Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12 noon until 2:00 pm on Thursday. Niel was born on May 1, 1938 in Chicago, IL to Joseph Lonkar and Marie Betten Lonkar. He is preceded in death by his parents and his maternal grandmother, Martha M. Vogelaar Betten. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie LaCaze Lonkar; a son, Richard A. Rachal and his wife, Shirley; his daughters, Deborah Bell; Connie Bell Touchtone and her husband, Michael; Suzanne Rachal Moore; Penny Marie Lonkar; and Amy Lonkar Rahm and her husband, Kevin; as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Niel was a proud American and served his country in the U. S. Army. He loved fishing, riding his motorcycles, and being the best race car driver in Red River Parish in RX1, RX2, and RX3. He enjoyed dancing with his sweet wife in the kitchen and going out to different places to dance during the week. He worked as a body shop mechanic for several years, repairing many a car. He also was a “rigger” of all things and could build or fix anything that his family needed. They have fond memories of him building a backyard playground and family park for the children in the neighborhood to enjoy. They enjoyed going crawfishing with him and picking flowers and flying kites in the fall. He was the best daddy and “Poppa”. He will be dearly missed by all that knew him. Pall bearers will be, Will Moore, Wesley Moore, Brandon Lonkar, Johnny Wayne Miller, Drew Jenkins and Joe Guy.