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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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Sr. Bonita Lentz, RSM
Sr. Bonita Lentz, RSM
Cedar Rapids
Sr. Bonita (Bonnie) Lucy Lentz, RSM, age 83, died July 19, 2025 at HallMar Village in Marion, Iowa, after a brief illness. Mass of resurrection will be held on July 25, 2025 at 10:30 am at the Chris and Suzy DeWolf Innovation Center, 9000 C Ave. NE, Marion, Iowa, by Father James Brokman. Burial will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.
The visitation will be on July 24, 2025 from 4:30 – 6:30 pm at the Community Room at HallMar Village, 8900 C Ave. NE, Marion, Iow,a with a vigil service at 4:30 pm. Arrangements are with Teahen Funeral Home.
Sister Bonnie was born on June 20, 1942 in Elma, Iowa, the daughter of Charles N. Lentz and Gertrude (Freidhof) Lentz. She attended school in Elma, Iowa, and graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in 1960. She entered the Sisters of Mercy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1960. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education in 1971 from Mt. Mercy College, Cedar Rapids in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She taught the younger children for many years, teaching at St. Joseph’s School, in Marion, Iowa, St. Patrick’s Anamosa, Iowa, St. Nicholas in Evansdale, Iowa, St Joseph’s in DeWitt, Iowa, Sacred Heart School in Waterloo, Iowa, and St. Pius School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Sr. Bonnie retired in 2004 due to health issues but that did not deter her from being involved in the community. She continued in active service as a volunteer at Mercy Medical Center in the gift shop as well as visiting the residents at Hallmar. In spite of her illness, she maintained a smile and a positive attitude, she even went into clowning as a way of spreading happiness to anyone she met. She moved into Sacred Heart Life Center in 2004 and then to HallMar Village in 2023. She was a vowed Sister of Mercy for 65 years.
In addition to the Sisters of Mercy, Sister Bonnie is survived by her brothers Michael Lentz (Robin Fishman) and Danny Lentz (Dena Lentz), her sisters Charlotte Sweeney and Rosemary Walsh (Tom Walsh), and sisters-in-law Elsie Lentz and Sandy Lentz along with numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Gertrude, brothers, Linus, John and Joe, and brother-in-law, Robert Sweeney.
Memorials may be sent to the Sisters of Mercy, 1125 Prairie Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.
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