Bonlander, Susan Kay (Zmolek)

Susan Kay (Zmolek) Bonlander, 64, of Marion, Iowa, died Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy following a brief illness. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Marion, by Father David O'Conner. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday, and from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17, 2012, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion. A Scripture service will begin at 7 p.m. with a rosary by the Marion Knights of Columbus to follow. Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include her husband, Roger Bonlander; children, Jeff (Amber) Bonlander of Walker, and Stacy (Jared) Lane; and grandchildren, McKenna Bonlander, Keegan Bonlander, and Evey Lane. She is also survived by her mother, Evelyn Zmolek of Tama; siblings, Delores (Ken) Poe of Conrad, Pat (Mike) Habenschuss of Charleston, W.Va., David (Denise) Zmolek of Fairfax, Mark (Carol) Zmolek of Tama, and Cindy (Zenon) Quintela of Santa Fe, Texas; brother-in-law, Gerry (Bernie) Bonlander of Fond du Lac, Wis.; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Jerry Zmolek; mother-in-law, Esther Bonlander; father-in-law, Christopher “Christ” Bonlander; grandparents, Emma and Louis Balvin, and Anna and Louis Zmolek; and a special nephew, Sammy Zmolek.

Susan was born March 4, 1948, in Toledo, the daughter of Jerry and Evelyn (Balvin) Zmolek. Susan married Roger Bonlander Sept. 11, 1971, in Clutier. She worked as an accountant most of her life, with the past 13 years spent at Justice Electric in Cedar Rapids.

Susan was looking forward to enjoying retirement life with her husband. With Susan being partially retired, Susan and Roger were able to spend more quality time together. They had been planning a trip for the winter to the Alabama Gulf Coast to avoid some of the Iowa snow and were looking forward to taking more short trips and enjoying life. Susan enjoyed walking, biking, and bowling with Roger, along with just sharing their lives together.

Susan loved to go to all of her grandchildren's activities and always had special activities planned to do with them. Susan had the biggest heart and always wanted to give. She especially enjoyed the holidays as it just provided her another reason to give. Her children always knew that they could ask her for any favor and if it were at all possible, the answer would always be “YES”. Susan always put her children and grandchildren first.

Susan also had another passion in life that she inherited from her mother and that was sewing, knitting, and crocheting. Susan always had more than one project she was working on and loved to go to the fabric stores to look for new ideas of things that she could make for herself, her kids, her grandkids, or her sisters. Susan and her sisters also enjoyed sharing their passion for quilting. Susan was having fun with her new quilting rack which allowed her to complete the entire quilt herself and was looking forward to all the new projects that she would be able to do. In addition, Susan created numerous beautiful embroidered pieces.

Susan was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She will be greatly missed by all who have been touched by her loving presence. She is a hero to all who knew her. All of her loved ones who remain here on Earth look forward to meeting her again one day in Heaven.

Memorials may be directed to the University of Iowa Children's Hospital or Make-A-Wish Foundation in Susan's memory.

Please sign the online guest book for Susan at under obituaries.