My name is Bonnie Lea Manion.  I was born on October 16, 1931 in Russell, Kansas to Bruce and Nellie Gimple.  I was the youngest of three children.  I left this earth to go to my heavenly home on June 29, 2025.

At age 5, we moved to a farm near Hamlet, Indiana where I attended school, graduating from Hamlet High School in 1950.  Shortly after, I moved with my parents and brother to a farm in Weld County, near Longmont, Colorado. I attended Colorado Teachers College (now known as University of Northern Colorado) for 4 years and received my teaching certificate. My first teaching job was 1st grade in Fort Morgan, CO where I met my husband, William Manion.  We married August 26, 1956 then traveled to California on our honeymoon where Bill showed me places, he had been when stationed there while in the Navy.

In 1959 we moved back to Longmont where we both taught in the St. Vrain Valley School district and raised our daughters Rebecca and Marka. In 2023 I moved to North Platte, Ne to be near family.

We were married for 63 years when Bill passed away in 2019.  During our years together we were members of the First United Methodist Church. We enjoyed traveling, going to concerts, reading, and picnicking in the mountains.

As I finish this journey of life I leave behind type I diabetes, daughters Rebecca (Brian) Hergenrader and Marka Kreiman; grand children Bret Hergenrader, Katie (Jordan) Jaeger, Henry Kreiman, and Nathaniel Kreiman; great grandchildren Lukas and Micah Jaeger; a dear cousin Lyn Nelson, and cherished nephew Kevin Thompson.

I was preceded in death by my husband Bill, my sister Ardyce Thompson, and brother Nelson Gimple.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to your favorite charity. No memorial service is planned. There will be a graveside service in Longmont at a later date.