Auguste (Gustel) Apollonia Karr Bonner

Gustel was born March 22, 1924 in Sarrbrucken, Germany. She is survived by her husband, J.T. Bonner of the home; their five children, Sonny and Jennifer Bonner (Bella Vista, AR), Wanda Scoggins (Rogers, AR), Liz and Carl Matthews (Farmington, AR), Sandy and Barry Garred (Bella Vista, AR) and Charlie and Debbie Bonner (Ozark, AR); twelve grandchildren and twenty-five great grandchildren, as well as her beloved cat. She is also survived by her brother, Karl Heinz Karr and many nieces and nephews still living in Germany. She was preceded in death by her father, Wilhem Karr; her mother, Berta Blinn Karr and one grandson, Charlie Bonner.

Gustel grew up in Germany and at the age of fourteen was forced into Hitler’s Youth Camp for one year. During the war, her home was bombed and her family lost everything. She and her father survived by moving from village to village to find food and work eventually reuniting with her mother and baby brother. After the war in 1947, a young American G.I., J.T. Bonner, stationed in Bamberg, Germany courted and wooed Gustel and won her heart. They have been happily married for 68 years. After serving 20 years in the military and living on many different Army bases in the U.S. and Germany, they landed in Charleston where Gustel was an active member of the First Baptist Church. She loved working for the Larkins at Medi Save Pharmacy as a bookkeeper for many years.

Once again, following J.T. and his career, they moved to Jenny Lind, Arkansas where she was also an active member of Jenny Lind First Baptist Church for over thirty years. Gustel served as the VBS record keeper well up into her 80’s as well as being involved with many care ministries with her church and community.

After J.T. finally retired from driving his dump truck, once again, they moved to Prairie Grove, Arkansas to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Gustel loved her Lord…her family…her church…her friends…traveling back to Germany…and in these last years as she suffered with Alzheimer’s, she so LOVED her cat, Kitty Bonner.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m., Monday, June 29, 2015 at Jenny Lind First Baptist Church with burial at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home of Greenwood. Viewing will be Sunday from 1 – 8 p.m. at the funeral home, where the family will visit with friends from 4 – 6 p.m.

Pallbearers will be Bob Woodhull, Harold Thames, Dan Thames, Don Crockett, Bob Wann and Jim McClain.

To sign an online guestbook, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com