Bonnie Hephner

On Monday, April 6th, 2020, we lost Bonnie.  Over the last 4 years, Alzheimer’s robbed her brain of memories, words and names but she never lost her ability to smile and chuckle – usually in response to one of Lonnie’s silly jokes.  She died peacefully, just before dinner, and her spirit fell into the arms of her Lord.

Bonnie Jean Warden was born in Mercer, Missouri on June 1, 1938, the only child of Lloyd and Marie Warden.  She spent her childhood near the family farm in Mercer, and later in Atlantic, IA until Lloyd moved his wife and daughter to Wichita, KS in the early ‘50’s.  Bonnie graduated from Wichita East High School in 1956.

Bonnie met Lonnie Hephner in 1957 at a Youth for Christ rally in Wichita.  When her parents needed their TV repaired, Bonnie seized the opportunity to invite this fun young man to her house.  Many dates followed and on June 19, 1959, Lonnie and Bonnie were married.  Their daughter, Lori, was born in 1961, followed by a son, Greg, in 1964.

Bonnie concentrated primarily on her home & kids until the needs of the family business called in the early 70’s.  It was then that Bonnie took on a more active role in running the family ventures: Hephner TV, Porta-Ad and real estate management.  Bonnie truly took on the title of Secretary/Treasurer as she learned every aspect of running a company from sales to bookkeeping to promotion and marketing.  She even did cold sales calls on area businesses for their fledgling sign company, Porta-Ad.  And when the computer age exploded in the mid-80’s, Bonnie threw herself into learning how to transition the businesses from paper to digital.

Outside of work, Bonnie pursued many hobbies including reading, travel, music, crafts and sewing.  She was famous for elaborate Halloween costumes and handmade party decorations for birthdays & holidays.  Bonnie loved to entertain in her home, hosting hundreds of parties and get-togethers.  For over 20 years Bonnie was the costume director for musicals & productions at Wichita First Nazarene.   Travel was another joy in Bonnie’s life.  Bonnie always took on the role of “navigator” on family road trips with a bag of maps and customized TripTiks from AAA.  She & the family also traveled extensively overseas for fun and to participate in mission trips.

To the very end, most people remember Bonnie’s smile, her laugh & her sweetness.  She faced any adversity with determination and grit such as when she successfully battled breast cancer in 2015.   She was resourceful, kind, and devoted to her husband, kids, and her Savior.  We are grateful for her lasting influence in so many lives.

She is survived by her husband, Lonnie Hephner; daughter, Lori Hephner; son, Greg (Peggy) Hephner; grandchildren, Michael (Rachel) Hephner, Rachel Roth, Audrey (Tim) Weaver, Sean (Emily) Hephner and Skyler (Julie) Roth; and great-grandchildren, Adeline and Isabel.

A memorial has been established with First Church of the Nazarene.