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BORN
1929
DIED
2016
FUNERAL HOME
BONNIE PAPKE Obituary
Bonnie was born December 28, 1929, and spent her early years in Northwestern Montana. She worked side-by-side with her father on their cattle ranch. In her adult life she loved to read, write, travel, hike and spend time with family and friends. She was a secretary, Arthur Murray dance instructor, free-lance writer and volunteer. More importantly, she was a wife, a mother, and a friend to hundreds of lucky people. Her volunteer resume was extensive. She volunteered in schools, Campfire Girls, the Blue Mountain Water Board, Friends of Children of Vietnam, as a 4-H instructor, as a Peace Corps volunteer (spending over 2 years in Benin, Africa), Unity Church of Mohave Valley, and as the founder of the Bullhead City Pulmonary Support Group. This is only a partial list. Her day-to-day life, even up until her final moments, was filled with thinking of how to support others.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, Boyd and Alma Thompson; daughter, Brenda (Bob) Papke; granddaughter, Lindiwe Ann Khali; and her siblings, Hazel Vinson, Liz Morgan, Jean Carr, Warren Thompson and Frank Thompson.
Bonnie is survived by her husband, Jerry Papke; children, Laurie (Dee) Zimmershied, Nancy (Dennis) Papke and Russ (Susan) Papke; six grandchildren, Scott Cocharo, Lauren (Mark) Maloy, Kyle Papke, Andy Papke, Dan Cocharo and Lee (Hanna) Andersen; and one great- grandchild, Brandon Cocharo.
Her family invites you to join them in honoring her life on Thursday, April 28, 2016 at 6:00 pm at Vista Del Sol, 3249 Felipe Dr., Bullhead City, AZ. There will be another opportunity to honor her this summer in Montana (location and date to be determined).
In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to donate to one of Bonnie's favorite charities or one of your own:
Unity Church of Mohave Valley, 2580 Miracle Mile, Bullhead City, AZ, 86442 (Bonnie's Bullhead family)
Second Second Wind Fund, 13701 W. Jewell Ave., Lakewood, CO, 80228 (youth suicide prevention)
Children's Art Network, 14 Byers St., Staunton, VA, 24401 (founded by Brenda Papke)
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for BONNIE PAPKE
6 Entries
James Schneider
August 25, 2023
Still thinking of Bonnie , unforgettable woman
Laura "Bisque" Tracy
April 29, 2016
Good bye Bonnie Lou!
We will miss you!
Thank you for all the wonderful "valley memories!"
Loves you always
April 28, 2016
We are sorry to learn of the passing of Bonnie, but grateful for her service to our nation with the Peace Corps in Benin.
Our Condolences,
The National Peace Corps Association
Dan & Norma Duncan
April 27, 2016
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
April 26, 2016
Jerry and family,
We're sorry for your loss. You and your family will be in our thoughts throughout this difficult time. I treasure all the communications I've had with Bonnie and you Jerry as well and will miss the emails and pictures on Facebook, and other communication we've had.
Gene and Marilynn Kirkpatrick
Iowa
Cindy Cocharo
April 26, 2016
This world has lost one of the neatest people! May she rest in peace! My sympathies To All of you.
Sincerely, Cindy
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Funeral services provided by:
Dimond & Sons Silver Bell Chapel2620 Silver Creek Road, Bullhead City, AZ 86442
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