Fred "Bill" Bonner

AuTrain Fred "Bill" Bonner, age 81, of Curtis Drive, AuTrain, died on Thursday, August 31, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. at the Whispering Pines Care Facility in Chatham, Michigan. He was born on November 1, 1924 in Munising to Fred and Laura (Gauthier) Bonner. Bill was raised in Munising and left high school to serve in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He served in the Asiatic-Pacific on the USS Ticonderoga and the USS New Jersey. Following the War, Bill earned his diploma from Wm. G. Mather High School. On August 14, 1948, he married Irene Marie Johnson. Bill worked for the Munising Paper Company, Metal Works, Cleveland Cliff's mines, and the family's dairy farm in Eben. On June 7, 1952, he began employment with Kimberly Clark in various departments in the mill and log yard until he was assigned as a rewinder helper in the Specialties Dept. Bill progressed in the department to operator. On January 21, 1976, he posted as a relief man in the powerhouse and on April 9, 1979 he was permanently assigned to the powerhouse as assistant fireman. That was the job that Bill held at the time of his retirement on August 25, 1980 after twenty-eight years of employment with Kimberly Clark. Bill enjoyed traveling and helping people, so he and Irene volunteered for ten years for Mobile Missionaries Assistance Program. They traveled east to west and from Mexico to Alaska with the Christian nondenominational construction program. They helped build churches, homes, Bible camps, and orphanages across the country. Bill fit it perfects as he said he was a "Jack of all Trades, but a Master of None." He was a member of the American Legion and enjoyed camping, fishing, and story telling. Bill loved spending time with his family.
Bill is survived by his wife and best friend of over fifty-eight years - Irene Bonner; their children - Catherine (Don) Mickelson of Munising, Janet (Leif) Benson of Scottsville, VA, Tim (Deb) Bonner of Wendell, NC, Laurel Bonner of Raleigh, NC, Lissa (Brian) Ward of Manitowoc, WI; foster daughter - Cheryl Wakkuri of Raleigh, NC; eight grandchildren - Dan Mickelson, Shandy Hallford, Tiffany Coffey, Shelly Bonner, Jeremiah Bonner, Laurel Jones, Crista Ward, and Kayte Ward; eight great-grandchildren with another baby due in October; sister - Bonita LeVeque of Munising; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson Scott William Mickelson on September 4, 1995, sisters Pearl Morrison, Eva Niedzwiecki, Lillian Maxon, and Norma Leinonen, and brothers Archie and Norman Bonner.
Visitation will be held on Sunday evening at the Bowerman Funeral Home in Munising from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. and at the church on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Bill's funeral will be held on Monday, September 4, 2006 at the Calvary Free Lutheran Church in Eben at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Thomas Schierkolk officiating. Interment will be at a later date at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising. Bill will be escorted by his sons-in-law, grandsons, and special nephew - Don and Dan Mickelson, Leif Benson, Brian Ward, Jeremiah Bonner, Daven Hallford, and Jim Maxon.