Bonnie Lee Henson

Bonnie Lee Henson

Cedar Rapids

Bonnie Lee Henson, 87, went to be with the Lord on July 2, 2025. She passed away peacefully at the Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha, Iowa, surrounded by love and family.

Bonnie was born December 3, 1937, in Nocona, Texas, to Henry A. and Vader Henrietta (Reynolds) Harrington. She grew up in North Texas and raised her family there, spending much of her life in Nocona. She worked for many years in a local factory hand-making sports equipment—a job that was tough, but one she took pride in. Bonnie lived a life full of heart, hard work, and home-cooked meals.

To her family, she was simply “Granny.” In her kitchen, Bonnie’s fried chicken, crispy okra, and perfectly flaky homemade pies were the stuff of legend. She didn’t just feed people; she nurtured them, one plate at a time. Her kitchen was her domain, and if you walked in hungry, you never left that way. And she did it all put together—hair fixed, nails done (usually pink), and a sharp wit ready if you needed it. A woman of faith, Bonnie was a long-time member of Bethel Baptist Church, where she ran the nursery and cared for generations of children.

She was married twice in her life—first to Ellis “Bunyan” Henson, Jr. of Belcherville, with whom she raised two daughters. Bunyan preceded her in death. Later in life, Bonnie left North Texas for Southern Texas, chasing warmer weather and a slower pace. But slow didn’t mean quiet—she found sunshine and a circle of friends who loved a good potluck and weekly dances. Bonnie also met and married John Gerlach, a kind and steady man her great-grandkids lovingly call “Blue John” because of his affinity for blue shirts. John was lovingly by her side throughout her later years, from the dance floor to her hospice bedside.

Bonnie is survived by her husband, John Gerlach; daughters, Sandy (Geoff) Pagnotta, and Tammie (Swapan) Dey; grandchildren, Geoffrey Pagnotta, Brandi (Mike) Shailer, Tania (Zulfikar “Zee”) Musliwala, and Vic Dey; great-grandchildren, Isabelle and Sarah Shailer, Sophia and Alivia Musliwala; and her extended Gerlach family: Kevin (Jennifer), George (Malinda), Michael (Suzanne), Terry (Patti), Chuck, and Kathy Gerlach.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Ellis “Bunyan” Henson, Jr., and her two sisters.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home, with visitation beginning one hour prior.

In every kitchen she stood, every dance floor she graced, and every child she held, Granny left love behind. She was strong, sharp, and one of a kind. She told it like it was, cooked like nobody’s business, and loved her family fiercely. She will be deeply missed and joyfully remembered.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the nurses and aides at Mercy Hospital and Hospice House for their compassionate and attentive care in Bonnie’s final days. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, www.mercycare.org.