Charlotte Bonner

Char Bonner was a woman you just knew you could learn so much from. She was a teacher by trade, but an example by choice, and lived every day with an uncommon vibrancy and purpose. Char was an exemplary woman, full of character and charisma, of humor and humility. Most of all, she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend, who made a difference in the lives of all who knew her. Chars story began on a warm summer day in 1943, in the shoreline city of Muskegon, Michigan. Those were such tumultuous times around the globe, as the battles raged on during the height of World War II. Yet on June 5, 1943, Alfred and Marie (Peterson) Johnson found a reason to celebrate, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Charlotte Ann. Char joined her brother Thomas in the familys home, and the children learned early on from the example set by their hardworking parents. Chars father worked in the purchasing department at the Norge Plant in Muskegon, while her mother worked at Continental Motors in addition to caring for the home and kids. The family was also faithful members of the Samuel Lutheran Church. Char attended Nelson School, and later Muskegon High School. She was a very good student, whose love for learning extended to the piano lessons she took after school. When she was in high school, Char met a classmate named Roger Gudelsky, and the two began dating. They continued dating after Char graduated, and began attending Muskegon Community College. After earning her Associates degree there, she finished her Bachelors degree in teaching in Ypsilanti, at Eastern Michigan University. Diploma in hand, Char then took Rogers hand in marriage in 1966. It was a bittersweet year for her, however, as her mother sadly died that December. Char and Roger started out living and working in New York for a time, before moving to the Detroit area. Eventually, they ended up back in Muskegon, where Char took a position teaching English in the Muskegon Public Schools, beginning her long and illustrious career in the district. Char celebrated the birth of her son Jeff on April 1, 1973, which made her so happy and proud. Her marriage to Roger ended not long afterward, but she wasnt meant to be a single parent for long. Char began taking night and weekend classes at the University of Michigan, to earn her Masters degree. There she met a wonderful man named James Bonner, who like her, was a teacher furthering his education. Char and Jim began dating, fell in love, and were married on November 4, 1976, in Muskegon. They blended their families seamlessly, and Char treated Jims children like her own, just as he did with her son Jeff. Char was a wonderful mother, who of course set a great example for the children. She was very conscious of proper etiquette and grammar, and kept Jeff in line quite often! Her personal life now better than ever, Chars professional life changed, as well. She eventually became a school counselor, and spent more than 25 years at Steele School in Muskegon. She was perfect for the role of counselor, though; she just had a way with people, always a very caring person who took great care of her students and coworkers. She was also an active member of the MEA Teachers Union, helping in causes for her fellow teachers. After Char retired from Steele School, she began working with the Child Abuse Council and CASA, too, always looking for someone to help. Char and Jim also enjoyed their free time, and traveled extensively. They took many trips around the country and even toured Europe, too. They sometimes went with friends, or just the two of them, but Char loved traveling of all kinds. Char and Jim were very social, with many close friends. They were members of the Town Club and the Century Club, and Char belonged to the Red Hat Society, as well. The couple also owned a beautiful, 30-foot Celebrity boat, a cabin cruiser they loved taking out with friends on Lake Michigan, or even the occasional trip up the coast to Frankfort. Char loved those trips, just her and Jim and her beloved golden retriever, Barclay. She was always a dog lover, and especially loved her many goldens over the years. The couple were also members of the First Congregational Church, but Char had ties to the Jewish community in Muskegon, as well, and attended Temple Bnai Israel with her friends on the Jewish holidays. She enjoyed being a part of different religions, and learning about them, too. Char loved to learn, and always had her nose in a new book. She was a very strong-willed woman, but always open-minded and fair. She looked at the world in a very logical, organized way, the same way she lived her life. There was no question that Char always set her priorities correctly. First in her life, of course, was her beloved family, who meant the world to her. She was very dedicated to them, and they brought her so much joy. She especially loved her grandchildren, and loved giggling right along with her granddaughters! She was just that way, so vibrant, so full of life, with a tremendous sense of humor, too. She was fiercely loyal to all of her family. When Jim was diagnosed with cancer in 2000, Char truly championed his cause. She took him to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where they stayed for several months, as they beat the disease into remission. Jim stayed cancer-free for five years, until it returned, and she took up the cause once again. Then in November of 2007, Char began having difficulty breathing, and it was discovered that she had blood clots in her lungs. Though doctors were confident they could control it, the clots worsened, and Char sadly died unexpectedly on Saturday, December 8, 2007, at the age of 64. Char was such a wonderful woman, who taught us all so much in her lifetime. She was a teacher by trade, but an example by choice, a woman so full of character and charisma, of love and laughter. Most of all, Char was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, who made such a difference to all who knew her. She will be so greatly missed. Char is survived by her husband, Dr. James Bonner; 1 son, Jeff Gudelsky; parents, Alfred (Doris) Johnson; brother, Thomas (Jane) Johnson; blended family members, James (Diane) Bonner Jr., Chuck (Deb) Bonner, Christie (Steve) Kramer, Jeffrey (Laura) Bonner, Tom (Barb) Gudelsky & Gary (Judy) Gudelsky; many nieces, nephews & friends. She was preceded in death by her mother, Marie. Services are scheduled for Friday, December 14, 2007, 11:00 AM at First Congregational Church with Rev. Vincent Lavieri officiating. Visitation is Friday, 10-11 AM at First Congregational Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the First Congregational Church. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or photo or to sign the guestbook.