Bonita Rae "Bonnie" Bruce

MADISON - Bonnie Rae (Lerum) Bruce passed away on Feb. 28, 2024, and joins her mother in heaven. Bonnie was born on Aug. 6, 1942, to Wanda (Hamre) Lerum and Edwin Lerum. She primarily grew up in Madison, living on Division Street and attending Madison public schools through Madison East High School, graduating in 1960.

Bonnie enjoyed family and friends and work. Her primary work was 28 years with the University of Wisconsin Foundation as a planned giving development officer, which allowed her to travel around the U.S. and meet UW alumni, many of whom remained friends after her retirement.

As a Norwegian-American from both sides, Bonnie enjoyed krumkake, lefse, lutefisk, being a member of Sons of Norway Idun Lodge, and participating in Syttende Mai celebrations, particularly rosemaling exhibits and the Stoughton Norwegian Dancers. Each Christmas she would bake multiple types of cookies, most with a Norwegian bent; many of those years she was assisted by daughters of friends, one of whom decided to count the cookies and registered over a thousand several years.

Downhill skiing was a part of Bonnie's life, and even before marrying Paul Aspinwall in 1999, she took him to ski school and multiple trips to the Rocky Mountains each year ensued, including Copper Mountain, Keystone, Vail, Steamboat Springs, and Snowmass in Colorado, Jackson Hole in Wyoming, and Deer Valley and Park City in Utah; even a trip to Whitefish in Montana. She also took Paul to dancing lessons, and then 20 years with the Night Owls Dance Club.

Bonnie was an early woman joiner of Kiwanis Madison West, in 1992, and served on its Foundation board. Friday lunches with several of the members were filled with wit (and witless) camaraderie, and the November pancake breakfast was sure to be on her "work" calendar, as well as volunteering at Midvale School.

Bonnie enjoyed her extended family on both the Hamre and Lerum sides, and she took to being a "mother" to a Swedish exchange student, Fredrik Rosman, while in Lake Geneva, and then attending his wedding to Malena in Sweden. She also liked being a "grandmother” to their daughters, Josefin and Emma. Multiple visits to Sweden and Norway before and then with Paul meant staying with family - Fredrik in Sweden, and her cousins in Bergen, Norway, and on the family farm in Leikanger, Norway. She also "adopted" Paul's children and grandchildren.

Supporting Packers and Badgers always made the calendar. Special trips were to Italy in 2006 with the Badgers men's basketball team, and to Hawaii in 2016, and several Rose Bowls. She was pleased with birthday celebration weeks to Bayfield and Door County, and a special one sailing in Green Bay for ten days in 2000.

Bonnie is survived by her husband, Paul Aspinwall; her brother, John; and many cousins. She was predeceased by her parents. She appreciated the help from UW Health, Oakwood West Hebron, Senior

Helpers, and Ingleside Manor in Mount Horeb. Bonnie, and Paul, particularly thank the staff at Brookdale Middleton Stonefield and Agrace Hospice for helping her make the most of the last three years.

A celebration of life will be held at BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 312 Wisconsin Ave., Madison, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2024, with a luncheon to follow. A visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. There will also be a Bonnie Bruce party at Blackhawk Country Club in the spring. Interment at Spring Prairie Lutheran Church Cemetery in Keyeser will take place on Aug. 6, 2024.

In lieu of flowers, gifts are encouraged to Bethel Lutheran Church, Madison Public Schools Foundation, or the University of Wisconsin Foundation.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson West

Funeral & Cremation Care

7435 University Ave.

(608) 831-6761