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Services Saturday for former teacher, coach Daryl Bonow
McCOOk, Neb. -- The community of McCook, Nebraska, and its school system and graduates have been saddened by the death of popular teacher and coach Daryl Bonow.
"Coach Bonow" died Monday at his home in McCook. He was 75 years old.
Bonow and his young family moved to McCook in 1964, and he taught history in the junior high and coached in both junior and senior high schools until his retirement in 1999. He won a state cross country title in the late 1970s and a state track title in 1982.
Charles "Chip" Smith, a 1972 graduate of McCook High School, remembers Coach Bonow as a "terrific influence in my life, as a teacher, a coach and a mentor."
Smith is now professor of music at Hastings College, Hastings, Neb.
Other former students are remembering him, on social media sites, as "a great teacher and a good friend," "one of the best teachers in the junior high," "best track coach we had in junior high," "my favorite teacher" and "an amazing man."
Many remember being scared of the teacher/coach: "He demanded discipline in his classes, and we learned so much in there."
Karen Grabowski Kuxhausen wrote, "He scared the crap out of me in Jr. High, but pushed me to do my best. We often laughed about that through the years. Rest in peace, Daryl."
Mike Diercks wrote, "Will never forget his opening scare tactic in first day of class. He had a great love for his students and the successes they achieved through hard work. Nothing worth having comes easy! Rest in peace, Coach!"
Jeanette Meissinger wrote, "He would act so tough and then turn around and chuckle."
Mike Clark wrote, "This is what I know about Oklahoma, courtesy of Mr. Bonow's class. They had a land grab. Some left early and cheated. That's why they are called Sooners. The state started as cheaters and still is s bunch of cheaters. End of Oklahoma history lesson. Of course this was in the 1980s, so we had a very heated football rivalry back then. Still my favorite state lesson ever. Thanks, Mr. Bonow."
During many of his summers, Coach Bonow coached girls softball and was a tourism director at the Sen. George W. Norris Home in McCook. Debra Vlasin Rohrich writes, "I can't even begin to mention all of the amazing memories of Mr. Bonow and softball tournaments."
In his retirement, he worked for Ron Crowe Specialties and KICX Radio, in McCook.
Coach Bonow is survived by two daughters, Trisha Hansen of Fremont and Taylor Biehl of Fairbury, and one son, Trent of Kemah, Texas; eight grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and two great-grandson; and two brothers.
Services will be Saturday, at 2 p.m., at Herrmann Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook. His family plans a private inurnment at a later date.
Friends and former students can leave online condolences and memories at herrmannfh.com.