Born in Guth's Station, Lehigh County, PA, he was the son of Neese J. and Theresa (Stender) Bonner and husband of Wilma (Stacer) Bonner. They were married 39 years on June 7, 2019. Dan was an electrician at the Mack Trucks Macungie plant (retired in 1982) but every year he put on a hobo outfit and painted on a sad face and became his alter ego, Dapper Dan the Clown. He left Allentown Central Catholic High School after 9th grade and in 1942 he joined the Navy and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He created Dapper Dan in 1966 and entertained young and old alike for 37 years at the Allentown Fair. He performed with several circuses and also participated in local parades and was a crowd favorite at the annual New Year's Day Mummers Parade in Philadelphia where he won the award for most original character two times. When performing at private events he would incorporate his wife Wilma into his act. In 2000 he became a member of the Allentown Fair Wall of Fame, joining his good friend Candy Candido and in 2007 he was inducted into the Philadelphia Mummers Hall of Fame. Dan was also a member of Knights of Columbus where he was a 4th degree knight, Ancient Order of Hibernians, and the Howard L. Peters American Legion Post 576.
Born in Guth's Station, Lehigh County, PA, he was the son of Neese J. and Theresa (Stender) Bonner and husband of Wilma (Stacer) Bonner. They were married 39 years on June 7, 2019. Dan was an electrician at the Mack Trucks Macungie plant (retired in 1982) but every year he put on a hobo outfit and painted on a sad face and became his alter ego, Dapper Dan the Clown. He left Allentown Central Catholic High School after 9th grade and in 1942 he joined the Navy and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He created Dapper Dan in 1966 and entertained young and old alike for 37 years at the Allentown Fair. He performed with several circuses and also participated in local parades and was a crowd favorite at the annual New Year's Day Mummers Parade in Philadelphia where he won the award for most original character two times. When performing at private events he would incorporate his wife Wilma into his act. In 2000 he became a member of the Allentown Fair Wall of Fame, joining his good friend Candy Candido and in 2007 he was inducted into the Philadelphia Mummers Hall of Fame. Dan was also a member of Knights of Columbus where he was a 4th degree knight, Ancient Order of Hibernians, and the Howard L. Peters American Legion Post 576.
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