Bonnie Jean Kamrath

Bonnie Jean Kamrath, 71, of Mayville, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, with her family by her side, at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac.

Bonnie, born July 19, 1952, was the first-born daughter of Palmer and Jane (Panzer) Schultz. She grew up with her four younger siblings on a dairy farm outside of Hustisford. It instilled in her a strong work ethic, unwavering sense of empathy and compassion for all people and animals, and a strong foundation in faith, family, and friends. She was affectionately known as Bonnie Jean “the beauty queen” or “Sissy” by her parents, siblings, and friends. She was united in marriage to her beloved husband, Lloyd Glenn Kamrath on August 18, 1973, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Neosho. Together, they would work their own dairy farm, build a family, establish strong roots in the Mayville community, and celebrate nearly 50 years of marriage.

Bonnie was an incredibly devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and the sweetest, most loving, and caring person to cross your path. Bonnie worked tirelessly during her life on this earth to support her husband on their family farm, while creating a home filled with structure, responsibility, love, laughter, hugs, and kisses for her children, and grandchildren. Later in life, Bonnie would positively impact countless lives as an early childhood teacher at the Punkin Patch Daycare and as a teacher’s aide for the Mayville School District. If the weather was nice, you would most likely find Bonnie on the front porch with her husband, Lloyd, listening to her favorite oldies on the radio or Bob Uecker calling a Brewers game. She enjoyed watching the neighborhood children bike up and down Clark Street or her beloved grandkids playing in the front yard.

She will always be remembered for her love of: cardinals, polka music, dancing, the color purple, singing a Christmas tune or humming an oldie but goody, playing her accordion for her brother and sisters, and planning surprise parties for her parents. She showed her love for baking, cooking, or making some family favorites like chocolate chip bars, cucumber salad, peanut clusters, pizza burgers, hot dish, meatloaf, and mashed potatoes, a Friday night fish fry, a strong whiskey sour old fashioned with olives or a brandy and coke. According to her siblings, she was famously quoted as saying “Whoever drinks the fastest, drinks the mostest”. She wore her emotions on her sleeves most days, religiously followed her Wisconsin sports teams and her hometown Mayville Cardinals. She loved her church and the Lord, was involved in the church choir for many years, attended hundreds of her kids and grandkids sporting events, musicals, plays, birthday parties, and other events. She loved going out for breakfast with Lloyd to the Back Street Cafe or Diner 67 on weekends for some crispy bacon, or a good meal and cocktail at Blanck’s Supper Club or the Iron Ridge Inn. She was the life of the party, and a social butterfly to those who would run into our parents at the Pub, Roxy’s or the Sherwood Cafe.

Bonnie cherished her close circle of friends, loved a good game of sheepshead or hearts, and was always there to listen, laugh, give a hug, or provide her kids, family, friends, or a complete stranger with a kind word or act of compassion and encouragement. We will never forget her big heart, kind spirit, and willingness to sacrifice anything needed to make our lives better. She always saw the best in people, dished out compliments like they were candy to anyone that crossed her path, and will be sorely missed by her family and friends.

Bonnie is survived by her four children: Joel (Chris) Kamrath of Watertown, WI, Jamey Kamrath of Mayville, WI, Benji (Melinda) Kamrath of Watertown, WI and Nicole (Adam) Oestreich of Mayville, WI; 10 grandchildren: Alexus, Hannah, Colin, Braedyn, Paxton, Reece, Olivia, Brevon, Nahla, Sulley; her sisters Karen (Alvin) Hildebrandt, Sharon (Steve) Patterson, Holly (Mike) Peltier, and brother Gerry (Agnes) Schultz; as well as other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Palmer and Jane Schultz and her beloved husband Lloyd Kamrath.

The visitation will be at Koepsell Funeral Home in Mayville on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Funeral services for Bonnie will be held at St John’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Mayville on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Dr. Mark G. Cutler officiating. There will be a brief second visitation for Bonnie at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow the service at St. John’s Cemetery in Mayville.

In lieu of flowers, all donations will be given to St. John’s Lutheran Church or the Mayville Booster Club.