Bonita Jean (Young) Vodinelich was born on June 18, 1932 in the town of El Paso, WI to William and Anna (Steinhauser) Young. Bonita passed away on June 30th, 2022 at Cambridge Senior Living in Hudson, WI after a short illness. She had just celebrated her 90th birthday. Bonita grew up in Ellsworth, WI. Bonita married the love of her life Thomas Martin Vodinelich on July 20th, 1957 at the Lost Creek Catholic Church in El Paso, WI. Tom and Bonita would have been married 65 years on July 20, 2022. She moved to River Falls, WI after marriage and resided there for the past 65 years. Bonita graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1950 and then went on to Wisconsin State College at River Falls (now UWRF) where she graduated with a degree in teaching. She taught for a short time then decided to dedicate her time to raising a family. She positively impacted her students as some still wrote to her to this day. Her gift of teaching carried on as she used her skills to teach catechism and to teach her grandchildren how to read and do arithmetic. Tom and Bonita owned Vodinelich’s Town and Country Electric as well as B and T Rental where they treated their tenants like family. Bonita loved traveling with Tom to Hawaii, trips out to Yellowstone, California, and Florida. She also enjoyed summer trips to Hayward, fall rides to La Crosse, fishing, watching birds, shopping, spending time baking cookies and making jam with grandkids. Bonita is survived by her children, Peggy (David) Wiseman River Falls, Timothy (Leslie) Vodinelich (St. Charles, MN), Terry (Sherri) Vodinelich (Boyceville), Patricia Vodinelich (Woodbury, MN), Pamela (Jeffrey) Larson (Hudson), and Michael (Christy) Vodinelich (Hager City) along with her siblings Rose Pittman (Chicago, IL), Joanne (Jim) Hyde (Mountain View, AR), William Young (Ellsworth) and Peggy (Lloyd) Kearns (Webster). She also has 17 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren whom she has enjoyed watching grow. Bonita was preceded in death by her loving husband Thomas Vodinelich, her parents, William and Anna Young, her sister Bette Foss, and grandson Spencer Halverson. A memorial gathering was held Thursday, July 14, 2022 at Bakken- Young Funeral & Cremation Services in River Falls, WI beginning with a visitation at 4:00pm followed by a prayer service at 5 pm. Private interment will be held at a later date at Lost Creek Cemetery. The family prefers donations to be made in Bonita’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Association. Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.
New Richmond:
(715) 243-5252 |
River Falls:
(715) 425-8788
9 Comments
Deepest Sympathies to my long time friend Patti and family for the loss of their BEAUTIFUL mother Bonita.
Tom was our electrician for years and lived a couple of blocks from us so we got to know Bonnie, too. They were such a lovely couple, always positive and Bonnie had nothing but good things to say about people. I can still see Tom’s lovely smile and hear Bonnie’s laugh. They were “salt of the earth” kind of people. We need more like them on this earth.
My parents spoke highly about you as well. I think you took a picture of my dad fixing your sink and he had such a laugh going on. He enjoyed connecting with people and had a good time. He was so talented. Thank you for your kind words. Cliff was your husband right?
He was, Pamela. Sadly, he died in 2007.
I will so miss her and have missed Tom alot. I will be thinking of all. I will always miss them pulling in the yard with the dogs and telling stories. Prayers are with you and your Family.
Thank you Mary!! He enjoyed your company so much!
She was my first thru 4th grade teacher. Of all the teachers in my life, she was my favorite. She taught me at the Fischer school, Ellsworth, Wisconsin. I will always have fond memories of those years. Sincere sympathy to her family.
Growing up in the Lost Creek Area, and a neighbor to the Young Family, I remember Betty as the teacher she was. She asked me to go to school with her one day as a little girl. My deepest sympathy to Bonita’s family.
Ms Young was my teacher at the Fischer school in the 1950’s , a one room school with no running water. she drove a 50-51 ford and piled us into to it to drive to other schools to play ball. I’m 75 and always remember her as wonderful woman, god bless her.
LeRoy Jennings
Middleburg, Florida
Add Comment