Bonar, Leonard Stanley Jr.

Leonard Stanley Bonar Jr., 52, of Chicago, formerly of Cedar Rapids, passed away Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010. A celebration of life memorial will be held at the Lowe Park Art and Environment Center, 4500 10th St., Marion, at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 1, 2010. Andrew Bonar (cello) and Karreen Kephart (pianist) will perform “The Swan” and “Elegie” at the service, followed by lunch. A private inurnment will be held at the Meditation Wall, Chapel Garden, at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, at 2:30 p.m. Pastor Gary Hoyt of St. Mark's United Methodist Church of Cedar Rapids, will preside.

Lenny was born in Rantoul, Ill., to Leonard and Arline Bonar on July 9, 1958. He was preceded in death by his partner, Dr. Dinesh Lauchman; and his parents, Leonard Stanley Bonar Sr. and Arline Belle (Paradies) Bonar.

Survivors include his sisters, Patricia Righter of San Antonio-Converse, Texas, and her husband, Lance; Elizabeth Toker of St. Paul-New Brighton, Minn., and her husband, Ahmet; and Martha Vandamme of The Woodlands, Houston, Texas, and her husband, Michael; his brothers, Ted Bonar of Cedar Rapids, and his wife, Traci, and Richard Bonar of Marion, and his wife, Charlotte; nieces and nephews, Elai ne Bailey and Kim Righter of Austin, Texas, Jonathan Bonar of Marion, Yeliz and Selin Toker of St. Paul-New Brighton, Minn., Andrew and Camille Bonar of Cedar Rapids, and Michelle Vandamme of The Woodlands, Houston, Texas; and grandnieces, Reese and Paige Bailey of Austin, Texas.

Lenny was a member of the Jefferson High School class of 1976. While at Jefferson he was an accomplished state gymnast, a member of Thespian Troupe 561, and concert choir. He also marched with The Emerald Knights Drum & Bugle Corps and The Madison Scouts as a member of the color guard and rifle line. After high school, Len was a member of the United States Air Force and was honorably discharged after his tour of duty. He then attended Northeast Iowa Community College at Calmar, (formerly known as Northeast Iowa Technical Institute) where he received his RN nursing degree in 1985. He became a clinical trauma nurse at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and received the 2001 Nurse of the Year Award, presented by the surgical staff of St. Luke's Medical Center at Rush Presbyterian Hospital. After twenty-plus years of service at Cook County Hospital, Len recently retired.

Len was an eclectic individual whose interests ranged from the love of fine food and dining to elaborate floral arrangements, and an appreciation of music and the arts. He was a roller coaster enthusiast and held an annual birthday pilgrimage to Great America to ride the coasters there. He was a gracious and generous man who arrived early to work and prepared coffee and provided breakfast daily for the staff on duty before starting his shift. He was a magnanimous individual who saw beauty in all of God's creatures - even Roy - a homely cat he rescued from an animal shelter. He loved his pets and adored them all.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in Len's name to the Humane Society.

We would like to extend our heart-filled gratitude to Len's friends and co-workers in Chicago who blessed our brother's life.