Bonnie J. Brown

 Bonnie Jean Brown left this world just before sunrise, on Thursday morning, October 17, 2024. All suffering ceased as the day dawned and she was welcomed home by her Lord and Savior, Jesus. 

 She was born to Lloyd and Lillian Irene Viner on July 20, 1941. The first of two children, she was the big sister to her little brother Eddie. As a young lady, Bonnie was a first-rate student. She was a friend of all subjects but was especially fond of advanced mathematics. In her youth she also kept her fingers limber with typing and piano playing. The spring of 1959 brought graduation from the old Central High School and the beginning of her life’s journey. 

 She was joined in marriage to Ronald Gene Sommerfeldt. Later in life, Bonnie found herself on her own. Life can take many twists and turns that lead one down many paths. One such path led to the love of her life, Steven Lee Brown. A good friendship blossomed into something truly wonderful, and they were united in marriage at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, La Crosse, Wisconsin, on October 23, 1999. They shared twenty-five years of love and memories with family, extended family, and countless friends. 

 Bonnie was the kind of person that got the job done. She began her working life at The Hut Restaurant on South Avenue in La Crosse. Later, she worked as a secretary at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital. Balancing work with family, she became the most amazing and devoted mother to her seven children, Heidie, Hollie, Nikki Jo, Jodie, Jason, Joshua, and Heather. When the time was right, she returned to the world of work. She joined the Central Service team at Franciscan-Skemp Healthcare, providing many years of service to the hospital and making many friends along the way. Lastly, she finished her time ‘on the clock,’ retiring from the Kwik Trip Bakery in 2002.

 All her many years of jobs well done were rewarded with a peaceful retirement in the picturesque hills of rural Chaseburg, Wisconsin. The din of city life replaced by the breezy sounds of nature and the songs of birds. 

 Our Bonnie was quite the socializer! She enjoyed ‘Card Club’ with all her many special and closest friends and was a member of the Red Hat Society. She also enjoyed travelling, as time would allow, and loved going on ‘Mystery Tours’ to new and exciting places. Bonnie was also an exceptional hostess at Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. (The ‘dollar gifts’ at family Christmas gatherings were legendary!)

 Bonnie was the embodiment of love, sacrificing greatly for the family she so deeply cared for. Working tirelessly to provide for those that needed her, she still had time to offer a kind word or a helping hand. Bonnie’s life was a life of service for the greater good. 

 Our beloved Bonnie is survived by her husband of twenty-five years, Steven Lee Brown and a large, blended, extended family of children and grandchildren. They are Alan Brown and Tonya Van Riper, Angie Mack, Austin and Amber Sommerfeldt, Hazel (Carson) von Seht, Heather Brown, Heidie (Elmer) Nagel, Henry Brown, Hollie (Scott) Wyman, Ian Brown, Jason Sommerfeldt, Kara Nelson, Joshua (Cheri) Sommerfeldt, Morgan and Riley James Sommerfeldt, Natasha Brown, Nikkie Jo Sommerfeldt, Tari Garbers (Sommerfeldt), Olivia Brown, Patrice Brown, Samantha Nagel, Stephanie Brown, and William Sommerfeldt. She is also survived by her brother, Edward Lloyd Viner of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and her special friends Carol Wuensch, Jeannie Bakkestuen, Kathy Erickson, Sally Miller, and the ladies of Card Club and Red Hats.

 Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Lillian Irene Viner, her mother and father-in-law Mildred (Millie) and Clarence Maack Sr., second mother-in-law Betty J. Giese, her daughter, Jodie Lynn Sommerfeldt, Herbert Sommerfeldt, and very special friend and Red Hatter, Janice Zenker.

 The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at Soldiers Grove Health Services for their kindness and devoted care, especially in Bonnie’s final hours, and to Mayo Clinic Health System, Gundersen Health System, Vernon Memorial Healthcare, and Dr. Carmen M. Dargel for all the love, support and care provided to Bonnie over the last few years of her journey. The family is also greatly thankful to Angie Mack for always being there to look in on Bonnie and coordinating just the right care at just the right time. Heartfelt thanks are given to Tonya Van Riper for her care and attention, whether at Ardie’s Restaurant or wherever it was needed.

 Services for Bonnie will be held at 11:00AM, on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, La Crosse, Wisconsin. Visitation will be held from 9:00AM until the time of services. A luncheon will be available at the church after the service.