Bonnie Jean Burkholder

Bonnie was born the fourth of six children, in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 28, 1925 to Marguerite and Bill McCormick. The family lived in the mining town of Eureka, Utah for several years moving back and forth to Los Angeles, and finally settling there when Bonnie was in high school. After graduating from Catholic Girls High, and a stint in the USO during the Second World War, Bonnie met and married her husband, Joe Burkholder on September 27, 1947. They built their first home in Sherman Oaks where they began their family of three girls and three boys. In 1957 they built their second home in Van Nuys and became members of St. Jane Frances Catholic Church. While the children were young, Bonnie was a stay at home mom, participating in Church events, the bowling league and Women’s Club. A part time position in a local department store led to full time sales in the Cosmetics Department. Then a call from a fellow parishioner led to a full time bookkeeper position for a private family business until she retired in 1990.

Bonnie was lucky to have made some great friends in high school, the brother rats, as they called themselves. They got together almost annually through the years while raising their families and aging gracefully. Her last big trip was her dream vacation to Ireland with some of her high school friends. After selling the house in Van Nuys, Bonnie and Joe headed north to Eugene, Oregon where they lived for about 6 years. Joe passed away of congestive heart failure in July 2004 and Bonnie moved in with her daughter Anne until February 2010. Bonnie spent her final years at a loving care facility, Evening Grace, just a few miles from Anne.

Bonnie leaves her six children; Debby, Susan, Kevin, Jeff, Daniel and Anne, 6 surviving grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren behind.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to The Alzheimer's Association.