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Christopher David Bonner was born to William and Kathlyn (Koyak) Bonner in Evanston, IL on May 27, 1968. He is the eldest of three, a brother to Kevin and Kerri Bonner. Throughout his childhood, he lived in a multitude of places including Illinois, New Jersey, and Australia where he learned to skydive at the age of 16. He was always one for physical adventure as his bravery was unwavering. Chris was a social butterfly, making close friends wherever he was. Many would say he was one of the funniest people they knew.
He met his first wife, Kim (Bethke) Bonner in high school. After attending Northern Illinois University, he and Kim ventured out to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado in 1993 where he would spend the next twenty years of his life. Chris became an avid lover of the outdoors when he started working at Copper Mountain, skiing whenever he could. He also enjoyed camping, golfing, watching the neighboring wildlife, and exploring the gems of the state. He met his second wife Joliene Rousu, where they eventually moved to Steamboat, Colorado. There he worked among friends as a bus transit driver. In 2013 he and Joliene left Colorado and settled in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It was here where he developed a passion for fishing, boats, and cars.
Despite all of his activities and interests, Chris’s pride in life are his two beautiful flowers, daughters Laurel and Lily. Laurel was born to his first wife Kim in 1999, and Lily was born to his second wife Joliene in 2009. He always pushed them to do their best and to be brave. He reveled in both of their accomplishments to anybody that walked by. He wanted to give them experiences they would never forget, taking them on little excursions that were only the utmost of fun. But whether it was cooking dinner, going on the boat, playing a game, watching a movie with a big bowl of popcorn, scootering, or making an ice cream sundae, he loved nothing more than doing them with his girls. His love of literature and books allowed him to be an amazing storyteller of his own adventures to his children which they will carry with them. He is so proud of the wonderful humans they have become.
In 2015, Chris received a second chance on life when he received a heart transplant in Little Rock. This gave him a couple of extra years that the family is incredibly thankful for. On May 18, 2022, Chris reunited with his mother as he sadly passed away. He registered himself as an organ donor and will be giving back as someone once did for him. He will live on through his daughters, family members, and friends as they carry him in the memories that they shared. He is deeply loved and will be missed every day. Happy birthday Chris, we love you!
A celebration of life will be held in Summit County, Colorado sometime this summer.
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Christopher, please visit our plant a tree (https://tree-tc.tributestore.com/?oId=25000403&tag=&tn=FreeTreeTestFC&otv=&source=tco_description&mtph=1).
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