Bonnie Wilson died of natural causes on September 3, 2025, at the age of 93. A native of Topeka, KS, she was the fifth of ten children born to her parents, Bill and Myrtle. Siblings included three sisters – Pauline, Donna and Carolyn – and six brothers – Paul, Bill, Tom, Jack, John and Dick. The family owned a small poultry processing business. Their home was a 2-story bungalow with one bedroom for the boys, another for the girls, and a single 28 sq ft bathroom.
While attending Topeka High School, Bonnie was inspired by a career day visit to a public kindergarten class. She entered Washburn College in her hometown to become a teacher and graduated in 1953 with a B.Ed. Her first teaching assignment was in Lawrence, KS. Many of her students were children of returning veterans who attended Kansas University (KU) on the GI Bill.
Bonnie married her high school sweetheart, Dale Wilson, at the KU campus chapel in 1955. Dale’s career assignments as an insurance underwriter moved the couple from NYC to Oakland, Phoenix, Detroit, and finally Chicago. After Dale’s death in 2014, Bonnie relocated to Grand Rapids, MI.
Bonnie earned certification in elementary education in five states. Her teaching career was interrupted many times by moves, but she found opportunities for creative and meaningful teaching positions wherever she went. In the twelve years before her retirement, she was the primary teacher in the last surviving one-room school in Illinois, McAuley District 33 in West Chicago. This was a challenging job that required individual programming for students at different levels in reading, math, and social studies.
While living in Illinois, Bonnie developed a love of opera and regularly rode the train downtown to see world class productions at Chicago Lyric Opera. In her later years, she generously donated to opera companies and children’s charities, a reflection of her passions.
Together with her husband, Bonnie enjoyed retirement travel to France, Great Britain, Canada, Hawaii, and Elderhostel programs throughout the continental US. Family reunions in beautiful locations every three years were great opportunities to keep in touch with the extended family that numbered in excess of one hundred.
Bonnie is survived by siblings: Bill, Donna (Stuart), John (Cynthia), Dick (Linda), Carolyn (Frank) and her children: David (Monita), Ann (Don) and grandchildren: Jennifer, Timothy (Julia) and Matthew. Bonnie’s lifelong devotion to education was passed to her children and grandchildren, all of whom hold advanced degrees.
Bonnie’s family would like to thank Corewell Health Hospice for their care and compassion, as well as the Porter Hills Skilled Nursing Center for providing a warm, respectful environment for her transition. We are so grateful.
A private memorial service with immediate family is planned. Memorial contributions may be made in Bonnie’s name to UNICEF (www.unicefusa.org).