Larry Gene Bonnes 1941 - 2018
BONNES, SQUIER
Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/14/2018 at 10:13:52
Larry Gene Bonnes, of Onawa, Iowa, passed away Sunday, October 21, 2018, at the age of 77.
Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Friday, October 26, 2018, at Faith Lutheran Church in Onawa, with Pastor Marsha Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Onawa Cemetery. Visitation will be 1:00 – 2:00 P.M. Friday, October 26, 2018, at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Rush Family Care Service in Onawa.
Larry was born on August 6, 1941, in Oto, Iowa, the son of Pearl and William Bonnes, along with his siblings George Bonnes, Dennis Bonnes, and Janet (Bonnes) Leisinger.
Larry joined the Army on August 28, 1959, in service for his country. He was stationed in Alaska.
He married the love of his life, Kathleen, on November 3, 1962, in Omaha, Nebraska. They have been best friends for over 61 years, and will always be each other’s best friends throughout eternity.
Larry was Chief Engineer and Tenant Coordinator for General Growth Properties for 35 years, from 1971 through 2003. He also received his National Institute of Power Engineers "Chief Engineer" license, Stationary Engineering Certificate First Grade license, Stationary Engineering Certificate Third Grade license, and HVAC Technician Certification. Larry taught Power Generation at Heartland Diesel School in Lincoln. Larry did consulting for municipalities to correct power generation issues with Power Plants throughout the Midwest from Arkansas, Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Plain View, Nebraska. Larry also taught at the National Association of Power Engineers. Larry also received numerous awards, and achieved one of the highest awards for his engineering and is in the Hall of Fame. Trane honored Larry with an award for Mechanical Excellence. Natkin Engineering Services, in formal attire, honored Larry with the Golden Engineering Award. Larry was also a Fraternal Mason.
Everyone thought Larry was and always will be a great man. He always kept the work environment upbeat. He made a lot of professional and personal friends by all his knowledge and his wonderful personality. He was admired by all of his peers and employees. A lot of people say Larry was the most intelligent man they ever knew, including all of the mechanical contractors who worked with him.
Larry has fulfilled numerous business owner's dreams by building their brick and mortar establishments, including the wishes of Rose Blumkin when she asked him "Larry, please build me the most beautiful store...", which was Omaha's Nebraska Furniture Mart.
His hobbies included wood working, building cars, motorcycles, and boats. Mercury sent him to school in Chicago to learn the comprehensive inner-workings of boat motors. He loved camping, water skiing, fishing, hunting, marksmanship, swinging on the porch in the moonlight with his wife, bon fires, spending quality time with his family and friends, and everything else life had to offer.
Larry was a very passionate, caring and loving husband and father. His strength will always live through the lives in which he touched. The world has lost a great, knowledgeable, and wonderful man.
Survivors include his loving wife, Kathleen (Squier) Bonnes; two daughters, KaTina (Bonnes) Conley and Cheryl (Bonnes) Downey; three grandchildren, Jonathan Bonnes, Melody Conley, and Austin Conley; one great-grandchild, Julienne Bonnes; one brother, George Bonnes; and one sister and her husband, Janet (Kent) Leisinger.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Pearl Bonnes; one brother, Dennis and wife Jennifer Bonnes; and sister-in-law, Roma Bonnes.
Monona Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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