Lorraine K. Bonter's Obituary
Lorraine Kay Bonter, age 79, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Port Charlotte, FL. Lorraine was born on June 11, 1944, to George W. and Marian J. (Holmes) Slocum in Muskegon, MI. She graduated from Muskegon High School in 1962. She worked for many years as a retail clerk at Meijer in Norton Shores, making several lifetime friendships that she deeply cherished. On November 15, 1975, she married Elden C. Bonter who took on her two young children as if they were his own. They spent many wonderful years together until he preceded her in death in 2007.
Lorraine was a very generous and giving woman. She was consistently helping others and she put her loved ones’ priorities above her own. She truly enjoyed her time spent with her children, grandchildren, family and friends. She was a genuinely kind, loving and sweet soul. She had a love for antiquing and thrifting and was always on the lookout for special gifts for everyone.
Her heart was huge for all creatures and animals. She loved her parakeets, her dog Molly and all her many grand dogs! She watched the wildlife including her deer (who were named), squirrels and the wild birds in her back yard.
She had many loves and hobbies, particularly attending her grandkids’ sporting/school events. She enjoyed Detroit Tigers baseball, watching movies, listening to classic country music, singing and playing the accordion, reading mystery novels, going to the casino and playing bingo, mushrooming, ice cream, strawberry daiquiris coloring, staying active on Facebook and Snapchat, flowers, pansies and anything hearts, yearly Frankenmuth and Shipshewana trips, sunsets, beaches and shelling, shark teeth and sand dollars, baseball hats and hoodies, Santa head ornaments, postal mailbox collectibles, milk duds and cream drops. Her list of loves goes on and on. She was so completely content and happy with just about anything except for airplanes, she never wanted to see another airplane!
Lorraine will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by her four children: Charles “Chuck” Willick ; Carmen (Jason) Carlson; Brenda (Eric Roussin) Bonter and Larry Bonter; five grandchildren: Riley Jaye Carlson, Dakota Max Willick, Colt Charles Willick, Liberty Chase Willick, and Blake Elden C Carlson; Beloved Sister-in-law/brother-in-law Shirley and Lee Thurston; Adored family friends Sandra and Kim Wagner; A very Special niece Denise (Gene) Jones and many other special extended relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, George W. and Marian J. (Holms) Slocum; husband, Elden C. Bonter; father and mother-in-law, Clifford (Viola) Bonter; brother, Kenneth (Joan) Slocum; and brothers in-law, Elery (Jean) Bonter and Merle Bonter.
At Lorraine’s request there will be no public service. A celebration of life will be organized at a later date this summer. Arrangements by The Ravenna Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 570 Thomas St. Ravenna, MI 49451.
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