Bonnie Jewel Bickel

Bonnie's life will be celebrated on December 20 at The Mill House. Because Bonnie impacted so many people's lives in and outside the Castle Rock community, our hope is for the venue to be filled with colorful floral arrangements. These colorful arrangements will display all the love felt for Bonnie, something that words fail to describe.

Donations to the American Heart Association in honor of Bonnie can be made here: http://www2.heart.org/goto/bonniejbickel

Independent, no-nonsense, dependable, loving and kind. These words accurately depict Bonnie Jewel Bickel who was indeed born to be a firecracker. She will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. She was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with her throughout her life. Most notably, Bonnie was an individual who was sure to leave an unmistakable impression wherever she went. Everyone acquainted with Bonnie knew her to be well-respected, kind and willing to tell you exactly how it was going to be. She was an integral part of many lives. Her outreach in various communities is only matched by the number of relationships she managed throughout her life. Her passing can be felt on a molecular level.

Bonnie was born on April 23, 1943 at American Hospital in Chicago, IL. Her parents were Frank and Jewel Moos. Bonnie was raised in Chicago. Bonnie was raised with one sibling, her older brother, Ron. Bonnie has remained close with her brother her whole life and her love for him shone through with one of her final wishes to be an expression of how much she loves him.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Bonnie was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. She was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Bonnie was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. She worked cooperatively and expected the same from her colleagues. In both her personal and professional environments, Bonnie upheld her standards. Her primary occupation was principal's secretary. She was employed for over 25 years by Douglas County Schools. Bonnie was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

Bonnie approached her leisure time in the same manner that she approached her life. A person who enjoyed being neat and orderly and one who understood the nature of things, she appreciated the hours she was able to devote to her various hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were gardening, canning, cooking, taking care of others, and shopping. Bonnie was content to enjoy her favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Bonnie always made sure to have a good time and make the trip a memorable experience for all who were apart of it. Favorite vacations included local treks to Estes Park, traveling abroad to Italy and going to the Bahamas with her granddaughter, Robyn.

Bonnie was a lover of animals and cherished her pets and "grand pets." Bonnie especially cherished her dog Ms. BB as her companion through the end of her life. Black and white, this dog outward appearance was perfectly color-coordinated with the rest of Bonnie's life (down to the white carpeting). What made Ms. BB a perfect match for Bonnie though was her personality. She was every bit as loving and stubborn as her owner.

Though retired, Bonnie could never find peace not working. After leaving Castle Rock Elementary School she found new pleasure and friends while working part time at Kohl's, and then later at Sam's Club. In many ways, Bonnie loved retirement as it provided her with the opportunity to catch up with her friends, attend functions and group outings, and tackle new interesting activities. However, a part of her heart always remained the principal's secretary.

All who knew her would agree that Bonnie was a pillar of the community. She lived her life with her feet firmly on the ground. She had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in her thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. She was willing to share her ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Bonnie Jewel Bickel did her best to ensure that her loved ones, co-workers, and anyone whose life she touched was given the chance to become a better person.