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Monday, February 1, 2010

Transportation / Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Honk to Say Good-bye to Vern Fonk

Posted by Bethany Jean Clement on Mon, Feb 1, 2010 at 5:08 PM

vernfonk.com
See ya later, ol' applehead.

The local auto insurance lunatic/impresario has sold out, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal. Will he be missed?

Thanks, Paul.

Comments (13) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

The article you link to says they're not going anywhere, and the same guy will keep doing the marketing.

Posted by gloomy gus on February 1, 2010 at 5:22 PM

But it doesn't mention Mr. Fonk. I'm guessing he's going into making movies starring himself!

Posted by Bethany Jean Clement on February 1, 2010 at 6:03 PM

Mr. Fonk died a few years back. The dude in the ads isn't Mr. Fonk. He's, um, like, another dude.

Posted by g on February 1, 2010 at 7:20 PM

Or he's been dead for three and a half years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vern_Fonk

Posted by PA Native on February 1, 2010 at 7:23 PM

Or he's been dead for three and a half years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vern_Fonk

Posted by PA Native on February 1, 2010 at 7:23 PM

Yep he's dead alright. I've seen that guy in other commercials before.
The era of the hokey, low budget commercial seems behind us now. Vern Fonk ads are local gems.

Posted by emilyp on February 1, 2010 at 7:31 PM

They'll keep running the ads. Thielke is the Dick Balch of auto insurance.

Posted by Toe Tag on February 1, 2010 at 9:05 PM

I think the only thing that will change is that there will be "en Espanol" versions of future ads.

Posted by What's "Honk" en Espanol? on February 1, 2010 at 10:24 PM

Yes, how do you say "Shipoopi!" in Spanish?

Posted by Teslick on February 1, 2010 at 10:39 PM

Honk for Fonk, mang.

Posted by Zebes

on February 1, 2010 at 11:04 PM

He and his giant head replica will be missed at Seahawk games.

http://www.holgatehawks.com/gallery/2009…

Posted by Kinison

on February 2, 2010 at 6:55 AM

So will they stop encouraging the illegal use your horn in non-emergency situations? IANAL, BTW

Posted by honky on February 2, 2010 at 7:55 AM

@4 Did you even read the article you linked to?

The commercials, which typically parody movies and TV shows as well as other Northwest personalities, are usually written by and star Rob Thielke, manager of the Fonk agency office in Everett. Due to Thielke’s prominence in the ads, he is commonly believed to be Fonk himself.

Fonk indeed died in 2006, but he hasn't owned the company since 1995.

Posted by T on February 2, 2010 at 12:04 PM