Henry Bonli

BONLI Henry Thomas passed away unexpectedly May 16, 2011 at St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON with his children Scott and Jane. He is survived by his son Scott (Maureen) Calgary, and Jane (David) Boone, Sarasota, Fla., and their mother Elsa Ziegler (Keith), Saskatoon; grandchildren, Christopher and Leah Bonli, Natalie Boone; sister, Dorothy Kamp, Windsor, ON, Alan (Lisa) Shannon; sister Anne Beeton, Saskatoon Linda (Dale), Calgary, Jim (Judy) Cochrane AB Laura Garratt, Cole, Kristjan; Corinne Kaye Ryan, Sean, Taylor, Eryn; Gary (Sheila) Beeton, Saskatoon; sister Helen BonliPannell Toronto Donald, Sean, Paul, Douglas; brothers-in-law Bert (Edith) Pedersen, Chris (Grace) Pedersen; sistersin-law Vivian Bonli, Melfort, SK, David (Carol) Liv, Inger, Maia, Jjell; Cathy (Garry) Gelech (Saskatoon) Steve, Tom, Greg; Tom (Rupal), Saskatoon, Sony,Kaeten,Kale; Jo McLeod, Regina, Marie (Ken) Sproule, Red Deer, AB; Agnes Pedersen, Kamloops, BC. Henry was predeceased by his parents Tom and Esther, brother Allan, nephew Jeffery, brothers-in-law Fred Kamp, Harman Beeton, Erik and Gunnar Pedersen, sister-in-law Ingrid Pedersen. Henry was born in Lashburn, SK. August 8, 1927, took his public school at Dover rural school, high school Melfort, Collegiate, Teaching Certificate: Saskatoon Normal School and University of Saskatchewan. It was while attending Normal School (later Teachers College) Winona Mulcaster encouraged him to continue with art. He painted a mural that he named Open Spaces, as were the Prairies. After teaching in a rural school for a short time he taught in Meadow Lake where there was a keen interest in art. He spent summers at the first Emma Lake Artists Workshop in 1955 and in 1956, 57, 62, 63 and 65 headed by notable art critics such as Clement Greenberg and Jack Shadboldt from New York City, NY. It was during that time he was advised to use oils as a media; thus his long period of forests and abstracts evolved. For the next three years he was an art consultant for the Saskatoon School System. He then studied at the Alberta School of Fine Arts and later worked as Assistant Curator at the Coste House Art Gallery in Calgary. The next three years he attended University of Southern California, while taking Art and Design classes he worked part time in the design studio of Bullochs Department Store giving him practical experience, concentrating on water colours and fabric design. He then returned to Saskatoon where he worked four years at Clark's Interior Furnishings, teaching art classes in the evenings. In 1958 he founded Bonli Interiors and was hired by CTV to do a weekly show, first with Margaret Dallin and later with Sally Merchant on Here Comes Sally. Summers he attended Parson's New York School of Interior Design, New York City, NY. In 1965 the family moved to Toronto and opened Bonli Gallery and later opened two Henri The Second Stores. Meanwhile he commuted back to Saskatoon to do interior design jobs, and in 1974 sold his interest in Bonli Interiors to Harman and Anne Beeton who had managed the business along with interior designers during his absence. He spent his retirement painting, moving into Heritage Nursing Home in December 2009 after spending several weeks in hospital. He adjusted as always and his sense of humour amused staff and soon he had so many friends he loved the place. He taught art to residents who were interested. A memorial celebration will be held in July at Melfort Carrot River Valley Lutheran Church where he attended Sunday school and was confirmed.