September 13, 1934 - December 31, 2017 Bonnie Irene Hicks Yelek went home to glory on New Year's Eve, 2017. She was born in Montcalm, West Virginia on September 13, 1934. Her husband, Don Yelek; mother, Verlie; father, Everett; brothers, Benny and Darrell; and sister, Arnolene, went before her. Bonnie is survived by her four children: Deborah, Atone, Theresa, and Kurt; son-in-law, Michael; sister, Rita; and six grandchildren: Devin, Sean, Jasper, Claire, Hans and Shane. While still in high school, Bonnie knew she wanted to be a nurse. After graduating, she attended the MacMillan Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After she became a Registered Nurse, she joined the Navy. She wanted to see the world. Her first assignment was to the Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton, California. Soon after, she met her Marine husband, and married. Bonnie wanted two boys and two girls, which she received. She was a stay at home mother, which is where her heart was. She believed in the importance of this role. After many years of a military lifestyle, the family retired to rural Loveland, Colorado. The city girl was then watching out for rattlesnakes, helping to build a house, and farming. Twenty years later, with the tragic death of her husband, and poor health, she spent her final years in nursing care. Bonnie will be well-remembered for her Southern gentility, approachability, steadfast kindness, wrapping presents nonpareil, Christmas stockings, Easter baskets, designer birthday cakes, the way she did not curse or raise her voice, how she used medical terms for body functions and parts which made her kids giggle, her timeless cuteness, the way Chanel #5 smelled on her, her joyful and heartfelt laugh, merino wool coats, walnut antiques and glass, the arts, high quality standards, the way she said your name, bringing in nature to admire as one would a sculpture, gold lipstick, making notes, refined taste, respect for education, stacks of paperwork, and much, much more. Farewell our sweet, adieu. We will be missing you.
