Obituary: Robert L. Bonnell

April 22, 1950 - August 23, 2018

On August 23, 2018, Robert “Bob” Bonnell, 68, passed away at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau after a short battle with cancer. Bob was born on April 22, 1950, in Nampa, Idaho and grew up in Nevada City, California. He moved with his family to Cordova in 1970. He spent 46 years in Cordova, working in maintenance for the Cordova School District until his retirement in 2000 and then was at Nichols Backdoor Store for many years.

In 2016 he and his wife, Terry, moved to Juneau to be close to their sons.

Bob met his wife while working at the Cordova schools. He and Terry raised two sons, Joe and Randy, in Cordova. Bob was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in the Branch Presidency over 15 years. He was a talented artist, enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid railroad fan.  In his retirement years he liked to drive out the road, putter in his shop and enjoy family vacations. He was a kind and gentle soul, and lived by the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” He loved to help his sons, nieces and nephews build forts and little towns in the sandbox in the back yard; was a jack of all trades who could fix, build, or create anything, an amazing artist and historian; an explorer, a true Lord of the Rings fan and a devoted husband, father, uncle who led by his quiet, humble example and witty, dry humor.

Bob will be greatly missed by his family and friends. At his request, there will be no memorial service. The family plans to gather in Cordova next summer to spread Bob’s ashes “out the road.” Bob is survived by his wife Terry, sons Joe and Randy; sisters Sharon (Dick) McCalvy and Sandra Turk; brothers Ray (Betsy) Bonnell & Rodney (Laura) Bonnell; numerous nieces & nephews whom he cherished along with several great-nephews and nieces.

Arrangements were handled by Alaskan Memorial Park & Mortuary, Juneau, Alaska.

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