Wendell Joseph Bonner was born 02/18/1925 in Eugene, Oregon to Joseph Sylvester and Irene Martin Bonner. As a youngster he lived in the small mining community of Cle Elum in central Washington where his mother was a homemaker and his father managed the JC Penney store. When he was 12 years old the family moved to the Ravenna neighborhood of Seattle. Wendell graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1943. He was due to be drafted into World War 2 so he voluntarily enlisted in the Army, hoping to become a pilot. He was found to be colorblind; thus was not destined to be a pilot. Instead he was trained as a replacement rifleman, and deployed to England. Two days before D day, he developed Appendicitis, requiring surgery. He later learned 85 percent of his unit perished on the beaches of Normandy, France. Wendell rarely spoke of the hardships and horrors of war though there were many. In 1945 after a prolonged fire fight he was captured by German forces and marched to a POW camp in Northern Germany where he was imprisoned for 5 to 6 months until liberated by the allies. Wendell returned home to his joyful parents who had wondered for months if their only son was still alive. Wendell went on to attend the University of Washington on the GI bill, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Architecture. He met and married Jeanne Evelyn Benjamin. Two children followed, a boy named Cameron, and a girl Susan. Wendell worked as a draftsman while designing and building the family home on Lake Washington. He went on to work for Boeing for many years, becoming a supervisor in Construction Management. Sadly Wendell was widowed in 1975. In 1976 he married Elsie Smiley. He retired from Boeing at age 55, and they moved to a 5 acre parcel in Lake Stevens. Wendell enjoyed his retirement years, joining an airstream club, serving as club president and attending many rallies. Wendell and Elsie embarked on a Panama canal cruise and traveled to Europe on the 50th anniversary of D day. They visited numerous sites he remembered from the war. On their Lake Stevens property they planted a large garden and Wendell built a chicken house. He bought day old chicks that he enjoyed raising, and of course they provided a steady supply of fresh eggs! Wendell and Elsie enjoyed 43 years together until Elsie passed away in 2017. In 2023 Wendell's worsening health required a move to an Edmonds retirement facility. He was frequently seen around the Edmonds waterfront on his electric scooter and he entertained many telling stories about his interests and adventures
Wendell was always busy with projects, building houses, a dock, a boathouse, refurbishing a vintage yacht, repairing hydraulics of a dump truck, buying and repairing a bulldozer, and more. He enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, and lapidary work. Wendell was an avid reader of murder mysteries, and detective novels. In his later years he took up baking cinnamon rolls, and learned to use a computer. His was a useful, busy and active life. He continued to chop wood into his nineties. His sharp wit and storytelling entertained many. Wendell leaves behind his son Cameron (wife Diane), daughter Susan, stepdaughter Cheryl, stepson Michael, 5 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, and a sixth great grandchild on the way. Wendell had a great work ethic, and a keen mind, and wit. He will be missed.
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