Bonnie Smith

SUN PRAIRIE- Bonnie J. Smith, age 80, passed away on June 20, 2022, surrounded by her family.  She was born on June 7, 1942, in Beloit Wisconsin to Victor and Jean (Maxworthy) Davis.

Bonnie grew up in Beloit Wisconsin.  Some of her fondest childhood memories were of spending time on the Grandpa and Grandma Max’s farm.  She learned to sew, cook, and take care of animals.  She was very active in band, theatre, and Turtle Grange.  She graduated from Beloit High School in 1960 and remained a dedicated Beloit Knight, as at every sporting event against Sun Prairie she’s stand up and sing their song.  Bonnie learned to dance with her parents and met the love of her life at a dance.  Everett was to bet a nickel he could dance with her, and she said yes, and the rest is history.  They were married July 1, 1963.  They moved to Arizona and Kim was born in Phoenix and not even a year later Jodi was born in Sierra Vista. Missing her family they moved back to the Midwest, Jill was born in Rockford IL.  Then they moved the family to Middleton for 6 months and Bonnie hated it.  Their final move was to Sun Prairie where she has resided ever since, and this is where Matthew was born.  Bonnie was active in everything her children did.  From being all their room mom’s to going on every single field trip, to attending all events that they participated in. When her Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren were born, she was just as active in their lives until her health no longer allowed her to be.  She loved every minute of every day that she got to watch them grow into the amazing human beings they are.  Bonnie and Everett never had a lot of monetary wealth but the love that they shared was complete and all encompassing.  Family was the most important thing to both of them and they have passed this onto their children to continue to teach the following generations.

Bonnie was also very active in the Methodist Church in Sun Prairie.  She helped put on the chicken and biscuit dinner, the salad luncheon, decorating the church, the choir, multiple committees, circle and even sewed Reverend Firary’s first ponchos that he wore to conduct services.

Bonnie loved the theatre and was active in Civic Theatre in many different areas.  She was prop mistress and help with costumes.  She went on stage both for Civic Theatre and Sun Prairie High School.  She loved all her roles, but Eulalie Mackechnie Shin in Music Man was one of her favorites. Bonnie also enjoyed seeing theatre and she went to many shows both community theatre and professional.  Her all-time favorite was seeing Lion King preformed. Even at the end of her life she still enjoyed listening to Music Man, Sound of Music, Oklahoma, Auntie Mame and Hello Dolly.

Bonnie loved to dance, and until Everett’s death in March of 1993, they would go dancing as often as they could.  She also loved to play cards, and if not out dancing, she could be seen sitting opposite her mother playing against Everett and her Father in games of 500 or Euchre.

She was employed by the Sun Prairie Area School District (SPASD) from August 1974 to January 2014, she worked in Title I at Eastside and Bird School before moving to the Senior High School in 1979 where she stayed in the Special Education Department (learning disability’s) until her retirement.  She touched many SPASD Employee’s and Student’s lives over the years, even allowing some of the students to call her “Ma” which she would not even allow her own Children to do without being trouble!

Bonnie is survived by her children: Kimberly Smith-Lohman (Cottage Grove), Jodi (Dale) Burmester (Madison), Jill (Dennis) Statz (Sun Prairie), Matthew Smith (Cottage Grove); grandchildren: Corey (Ashley) Statz, Justin (Tayler) Statz, Chad (Alison) Smith, Leah (Brandon) Ruden, Zachary Lohman, Danielle Statz, Erin Burmester, Everett (Ashley) Statz, Allison Statz, Mason Smith, Taylor Smith, and Corbin Smith; great-grandchildren: Addisyn Crawford, Wesley Statz, Jackson Statz, Aiden Knutson, Emersen Statz, Wyatt Statz, Ellinor Statz, Samuel Statz, Wade Statz, Maddex Teson, and Cooper Smith.  She is further survived by her sister Vicki Stone; and nieces Sarah (Bill) Stone Weber, Amy Stone (Carol Bruhn) and Beth (Roger) Stone-Johnson; and many dear cousins and friends.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband Everett Smith; parents Victor and Jean Davis; aunts and uncles Robert and Ethel Maxworthy, Basil and Grace Riese; and many other dear relatives and friends.

Friends and family will gather from 1-4:00 PM on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at Burke Town Hall, 5365 Reiner Road, Madison, WI 53718.

Memorials can be sent to the family, for charities to be chosen at a later date by the family.

The family wants to extend a huge THANK YOU to Dr Newquest, Dr Henandez, and Randi and Erica from SSM Health who were part of our care team and are now part of our family.

Cress Funeral Service

1310 Emerald Terrace

Sun Prairie, WI 53590

608-837-9054