Thelma M. Bonner, 92, Town of Dover, died peacefully Oct. 21, 2015, at Waterford Senior Living. She was born Aug. 13, 1923, in Pence, Ind., to the late Harley and Florence (Lohmeyer) Clark. She attended Millburn Grade School and was a Warren Township High School graduate, class of 1941.
On Nov. 13, 1948, she married James Bonner at Millburn Congregational Church. She worked as a legal secretary in Waukegan until her marriage and then as a legal/medical secretary in various offices in Burlington. She then worked at Racine County School offices until her retirement in 1985. She was a 4-H leader and a Sunday school teacher. She loved to sew, bake, and cook for her family while she was able.
Survivors include her children, Barbara Bonner, Romeoville, Ill., Don (Gigi VanAcker) Bonner, Kansasville, Betty (Jeff) Bratz, Kansasville, Richard (Jill) Bonner, Burlington, Patty (Bill) Ehlen, Lyons; grandchildren, Rachel (Jeff) Engen, Matthew (Johni) Brown, Laura (Brian) Spence, Kyle (fiancée’ Samantha Donegan) Bonner, Jamie (John) Vaccaro, Tim (Ashley) Bratz, Ryan (Piper) Bratz, Mark Bratz, Kelsey Bonner, Kate Bonner, Liz (Mike) Schmidt, Breanna (Dave Shea) Ehlen, Chad (Alexa McCarthy) Ehlen, Willy (Elli Arnouts) Ehlen, Noah Ehlen and Bryan (Mollie) West; great-grandchildren, Kyelar, Austin, Abigail, Jaxon, Madison, Jillian, Jenna, Hayden and Mason; a great-grandson due in February; her sister, Lucille Engh; brothers, John (JoAnn) Clark, Glenn (Judy) Clark and Robert Clark, nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends.
She was further preceded in death by her husband; son, Charles; sisters and brothers-in-law: Berneice and Walter Fountaine, Juanita and Raymond Hauser, Clayton Engh; sister-in-law, Anna Clark; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, G. Robert and Carole Bonner; nieces, Bonnie Kraimer and Shirley Aderman.
A memorial gathering is Saturday, Nov. 7, at the First Congregational Church of Rochester from 10 a.m. to noon, with services at noon. Inurnment will take place in Rochester Cemetery following services. Mealy Funeral Home, Waterford, is serving the family.
In lieu of floral expressions of sympathy, the family suggests memorials be made to First Congregational Church of Rochester.
Well-wishers can visit www.mealyfuneralhome.com.
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