Bonnie Harper passed away peacefully on Feb. 24 after a long battle with both dementia and breast cancer. Bonnie was born in Milwaukee, Wis., on Nov. 22, 1942. She was the second of three daughters born to Norbert and Mildred (Baker) Bruesewitz. She grew up on a mink ranch in Tomahawk, where she graduated from Tomahawk High School. She then enlisted in the Air Force where she would proudly serve her country and would also meet her future husband, Dale Harper. They were married at Scott Air Force Base on St Patrick’s Day 1962. They enjoyed nearly 62 years of marriage and had one daughter, Laura Harper and one son, Dean Harper.
Bonnie worked in various bookkeeping jobs after the military until Dale’s military retirement in 1976, at which time they moved to Eugene, Ore. Bonnie would spend the next 27 years working for the City of Eugene in Accounts Payable, Purchasing and Payroll. Bonnie was active in the Springfield Elks Emblem Club and Eu-Lane International Toastmasters. She earned an Associate’s Degree in Accounting taking night classes at Lane Community College and became a Certified Payroll Professional.
In their retirement Bonnie and Dale spent several years traveling around the country in their RV, golfing, camping, antiquing and visiting friends and relatives. Bonnie also devoted much of her spare time to volunteering at Greenhill Humane Society. She cleaned the cattery and started a monthly newsletter that followed up on all the dog adoptions. She was also an avid dog walker.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents and her older sister Shirley Hull. She is survived by her husband Dale Harper, daughter Laura Harper, son Dean Harper, younger sister Darlene Ashe, granddaughters Emily Harper and Liliana Nava and multiple nieces and nephews and cousins. The family would like to thank Quail Crest Memory Care and Bristol Hospice for taking care of Bonnie in her final days. A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 18 at the American Legion Post 83, 3650 River Rd. in Eugene. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The Alzheimer’s Association, The American Cancer Society or your local Humane Society.