Bonnie was born in Parks, Nebraska on September 28, 1926 to Georgia and Asa Ellis. She was sixth born in a line of twelve children. She moved to Colorado when she was around six years old and spent most of her childhood and school years in the Evans area. As a young adult, Bonnie began working at Montgomery Ward in downtown Greeley where she worked with Frank Kessinger. Frank introduced Bonnie to his brother Warren (Jack) and the two of them hit it off. After many dates, most at Glenmere Park, they were married on March 19, 1949 in Greeley. Two years later their first daughter Debra was born.
Due to family circumstances, the small family moved to Decatur, Nebraska to be near Jack’s sister Mary. It was in Nebraska that they added two daughters to their family, Diana and Denise. It had been difficult for Bonnie to leave her large family in Greeley but quickly came to love her Decatur life near her sister-in-law and dear friend Mary. However, Decatur was not to be her permanent home and the family of five once again moved, this time to Phoenix, Arizona. Bonnie and Jack spent the next 40 years raising their girls which had now grown to four, with the addition of Dori. Bonnie always referred to her daughters as “the 4 D’s”.
Bonnie was the ultimate mother and homemaker - she loved her family with all her heart. Her cooking and baking skills were stellar and she poured her love into her cookies. She sewed nearly all of her girls’ clothing including Barbie clothes and every Christmas was special with her daughters’ new velvet dresses. She loved to garden and had a green thumb when it came to flowers, especially sweet peas. She was also in a bowling league for many years, received many trophies and was really an excellent bowler. The holidays were especially festive...Bonnie loved to decorate. Later she began to walk each morning before dawn, even in the Phoenix summer, and could outpace all of her daughters even with those short legs. When she became a grandmother, all rules about “no spoiling” were thrown out. She was the best of the best and all of her grandchildren revere and honor her.
After Jack passed away in 1999, Bonnie began a new life in Greeley with Don Mitchell. The two were married in July 2002 and lived together until Bonnie needed more assistance provided by Garden Square.
Survivors include Don Mitchell, daughter Debra Buckingham of Tempe, AZ, daughter Diana Mohr of Greeley, daughter Denise Kessinger Huggins and her husband George of Cardiff by the Sea, CA and daughter Dori McConnell and her husband Kevin of Austin, TX. Included also are her grandchildren Jocelyn Buckingham, David (Andrea) Buckingham, Carly (Vince) Ortega, Laura (Austin) Hannon, Noah Huggins and Tristan McConnell. Surviving siblings include Edna Peterson of Texas, Shirley Stiley of Greeley and Gladys (Paul) Otten of LaSalle, as well as sisters-in-law Della Ellis and Ruth Ellis. Bonnie also has a multitude of nieces and nephews.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband Warren (Jack) Kessinger, her parents Georgia and Asa, and her beloved siblings Donald Ellis, Russell Ellis, Irene Lewis, Melvin (Chuck) Ellis, Kathryn (Kitty) Mosier, Chester (Jack) Ellis, Elwood (Gene) Ellis, and Deanna Boyer.
Visitation will be from 4:30-8:00 p.m. Friday, October 12 at Stoddard Funeral Home, 3205 W. 28th Street, Greeley, Colorado. Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 13 at Stoddard Funeral Home.
Interment Resthaven Park Cemetery, Glendale, Arizona
Memorial gifts may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association www.alz.org
