Bonnie Lou Moser

All people die but not all people live, Bonnie lived! Adored sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother, Bonnie Lou Moser passed away peacefully with her family at her side at the age of 85, on March 3, 2026. She was a devoted wife of 56 years to her beloved husband, H. Derr Moser Jr., who preceded her death in 2018.

Born in Columbus OH, to Madeline Sutton and Boyd Sutton and raised in Kalamazoo, this captain of her high-school cheerleading team kept that spirit high across the course of her entire life, as everyone experienced her warmth and positivity with each interaction. She achieved an Associate's Degree at Western Michigan University and quickly rose the ranks of the Ford Motor Company to become an Executive Secretary. When she retired to become a world-class homemaker, skills from her career served her for a lifetime, as her memory and attention to detail would run circles around any typical 30-year-old.

First to volunteer when anyone asked for support--from field trips to fundraising--she was game for it all. Her home was her castle; she was an avid gardener and took great pride in curating an exquisite landscape and interior. She was known in the neighborhood to throw the most original and fun birthday parties. She was the mom that when you asked for the "Juicy Fruit Tree" for Christmas, she'd go out and buy a tree and spend all night attaching Juicy Fruit gum to it, just so the morning would not disappoint. She was a Brownie Leader, Malamute dog mommy and superb champion and chauffeur for any activity her two daughters wanted to pursue from ice skating, tennis, skiing, horseback riding, gymnastics, swimming ... she wanted them to experience it all.

Her Yorkie caregiving skills were off the charts, from post-surgical nurse to new puppy trainer, she'd drop her responsibilities in a moment's notice to come help out when needed. She leveraged all the creativity she developed as a mother to create special experiences for her grandkids, Daniel, Benjamin and Abby. From trout farm outings to minor league baseball games, she was thrilled to watch them grow and thrive.

Outside of her daughters, her passion was traveling across the country with her husband to pursue and grow their collections from auctions and antique dealers; they amassed an impressive selection of rare Early American Furniture, Antiques and Fine American Folk Art. She enjoyed exploring the United States and Canada with her family as well as her trips to the Bahamas, France and London.

She single-handedly kept Jacobson's department store earnings high through the 70s, 80s and 90s, until she turned her devotion to Chicos which has experienced their greatest period of growth from the late 90s to today. Coincidence? We think not!

There wasn't a hug or a night out on the town that she didn't love, and who would pass those up for a chance to experience her infectious laugh and beautiful smile. She was considered the bright light in her family, the one who kept everyone connected and together. Fiercely independent, as demonstrated by her move from her residence in Birmingham Michigan, to Chicago, she quickly learned to navigate both her new iPhone and taking Ubers around town.

She never missed a party ... from Happy Hour at The Breakers, to family, Oscar, Garden and Halloween parties, she loved a good time. In her last couple of years she became an award-winning bingo champion, connoisseur of Chinese food and a devotee of every Western movie ever made.

For all of these qualities and how she made you feel, Bonnie was loved beyond words, and will be so sorely missed.

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." -Dr. Seuss