Bonnie Jean Draeger Pierce

Deerfield- Bonnie Jean Draeger Pierce passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 after a brief illness.  Bonnie Jean was born on a farm in eastern Dane County on January 26, 1942 to Esther and Walter Draeger.  She was a graduate of Deerfield High School after attending a one room schoolhouse near her home.  Later she graduated from Madison Business College, and held a real estate broker's license after attending MATC.  She was later a successful real estate associate with two Madison real estate companies starting in 1987 after the sale of a printing firm she operated with her husband in Mt. Horeb.  Bonnie Jean courageously endured two great tragedies in her life, the death of her only brother, Captain Walter F. Draeger, Jr., who was killed in action in Vietnam in 1965 (he was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions) and the death of her youngest son, Nathaniel Draeger Pierce on Fathers Day, 2007.  She and her husband, and her surviving son, Solon Pierce IV, co-authored a book on Nathaniel's tragic life regarding skewed required curricula and bullying in public education leading to depression and mental illness.  The family constructed a web site, www.newlumenpress.com, to provide information on their book.  Bonnie Jean Draeger Pierce is survived by her loving husband of 43 years, Solon W. Pierce III and her son, Dr. Solon W. Pierce IV, both of Deerfield; and her sister, Beverly Kessler of Deerfield.  She is further survived by her nieces and nephews, Diana (Donald A.) Imhoff, Beth Ann (Patrick) Annen, James Kessler and Walter Kessler, all of Deerfield; their children; and many cousins.  Her parents and her brother preceded her in death.  Burial with a private memorial service was held.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to St. Paul's Liberty Lutheran Church and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.